Keshav Maharaj becomes first SA spinner to claim this milestone
The first Test between West Indies and South Africa ended in a draw with rain playing spoilsport for the majority of the match held at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad. However, Keshav Maharaj starred in the game, having claimed four-fers in both innings. With this, he became the first SA spinner to claim eight wickets in a Test match on WI soil.
Remarkable spells from Maharaj
Responding to SA's first innings score of 357, WI were folded for 233 as Maharaj sent back Mikyle Louis (35), Keacy Carty (42), Alick Athanaze (3), and Joshua Da Silva (1). Maharaj dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite (0) in the first over of the last innings. Carty (31) and Hodge (29) fell to him thereafter. The left-arm spinner also stopped Athanaze (92) from getting a ton.
Maharaj scripts history
Maharaj, who claimed 4/76 (40 overs) and 4/88 (26.2 overs), finished with match figures worth 8/164 in 66.2 overs. As per ESPNcricinfo, no other SA spinner has claimed as many or more scalps in a Test in WI. Interestingly, the previous best match figures by a SA spinner in WI also belonged to Maharaj as he claimed 7/83 in the 2021 Gros Islet Test.
Third-best figures in away Tests for Maharaj
Maharaj recorded his third-best figures in away Tests. He claimed 12/283 in the 2018 match against Sri Lanka in Colombo. In the 2017 Wellington Test against New Zealand, the veteran claimed 8/87. Hugh Tayfield and Paul Adams are the only other SA spinners to claim at least eight wickets in an away Test thrice. No other Proteas spinner has accomplished this milestone more times.
Here are his Test numbers
Maharaj's twin four-wicket hauls see him race to 166 wickets across 51 Tests at 31.43. As per ESPNcricinfo, he went past 300 maiden overs during the game (316). Versus WI, the left-arm spinner now owns 20 wickets from four matches at 17.85. 17 of his wickets have come on Windies soil. Maharaj now owns 94 wickets in away matches (home of opposition) at 31.50.
