SA beat WI in 2nd Test to claim series 1-0
South Africa have secured their 10th consecutive Test series victory against the West Indies, following a hard-fought win by 40 runs in the second and final game in Guyana. It was a low-scoring affair as WI were folded for 144 while responding to SA's first innings score of 160. However, the visitors managed 246 in their second innings. Chasing 263, WI were folded for 222. Here are the key stats.
How did the game pan out?
A brilliant fifer from Shamar Joseph meant the Proteas were folded for 160 while batting first. WI could manage only 144/10 in reply as Jason Holder starred with a fighting 54*. Fifties from Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne meant SA posted 246/10 in their second outing. WI were asked to chase down 263. They were restricted to 222/10.
Career-best figures for Seales
WI's Jayden Seales delivered an impressive performance, taking nine wickets in the game. He achieved career-best figures worth 6/61 in South Africa's second innings. SA's first innings saw him register 3/45. In 15 Tests, Seales has raced to 62 wickets at an average of 23.67. This was his second fifer. As per ESPNcricinfo, Seales has claimed 17 wickets at 21.76 against SA.
Mulder's contributions bolster South Africa's win
Wiaan Mulder, SA's seam-bowling all-rounder, played a crucial role. He took six wickets, including a career-best 4/32 in his first outing. Mulder scored an 71-ball 34 runs in the second innings. Playing his 14th Test, he has raced to 25 wickets at 25 besides scoring 401 runs at 17.43. 10 of his wickets have come against WI at 19.20.
Third Test fifer for Shamar Joseph
Playing his maiden home Test, Joseph claimed 5/33 in the first innings though he failed to strike in his second outing. The pace sensation has now raced to 22 wickets from six Tests at a fine average of 25.90. This was his third fifer overall in Tests. Notably, Joseph also contributed with scores worth 25 and 11 in the game.
Holder slammed his 14th Test fifty
Holder smashed 54* from 88 balls in WI's first innings before bagging a duck in his second outing. He has now completed 3,073 Test runs at 29.83 (50s: 14, 100s: 3). In eight matches versus SA, Holder owns 299 runs at 24.91. He hammered his second fifty. With the ball, Holder could manage a solitary wicket in the game.
Markram touched the 2,500-run mark
Markram made a fine 108-ball 51 in his second outing (6 fours). During his stay, he also completed 2,500 runs in Test cricket. The star opener owns 2,510 runs at 35.85. In addition to 7 hundreds, he owns 11 fifties. Markram has raced to 452 runs at 41.09 against WI (100s: 1, 50s: 3). He also went past 6,500 First-Class runs (6,510 at 43.11).
4th fifty-plus score for Verreynne
SA's second innings was also powered by Kyle Verreynne's 78-ball 59 as he hammered eight fours. Verreynne has raced to 719 runs at 27.65. In addition to three fifties, he owns a ton. His 59 was laced with eight fours. As per ESPNcricinfo, the batter hit his maiden fifty versus WI. He owns 158 runs against them at 26.33.
Record stand between Piedt and Burger
SA were reeling at 97/9 in their first innings before Dane Piedt (38*) and Nandre Burger (23), their last two batters in the line-up, added 63 runs. As per ESPNcricinfo, they recorded SA's highest 10th-wicket stand against WI. This was also the fifth-highest 10th-wicket partnership by a visiting pair on Caribbean soil in this century.
10th successive series win against WI
As the rain-curtailed opening Test ended in a draw, SA won the series 1-0. This was SA's 10th back-to-back Test series win over WI. The Caribbean team recorded their first and only series triumph against SA in 1992 (1-0 at home).
Maharaj goes past Tayfield
Keshav Maharaj claimed 2/8 (5.4 overs) in his first outing and backed it up with figures worth 3/37 (11.2). As per ESPNcricinfo, he overtook Hugh Tayfield to become the SA spinner with the most Test wickets. Tayfield, who was an offie, finished with 170 scalps. Meanwhile, Maharaj also finished the series as the highest wicket-taker, having scalped 13 wickets at 16.08.
Here are his Test numbers
Maharaj, who claimed twin four-wicket hauls in the first Test, has raced to 171 wickets across 52 Tests at 30.78. He boasts nine fifers. Versus WI, the left-arm spinner now owns 25 wickets from five matches at 16.08. 22 of his wickets have come on Windies soil at 14.59. Maharaj now owns 99 wickets in away matches (home of opposition) at 30.36.
Four wickets in the game for Rabada
Rabada, who registered figures worth 1/40 and 3/50 in the game, has raced to 31 wickets across six Tests (12 innings) against WI. As per ESPNcricinfo, the pacer's average of 14.25 is the best among bowlers with at least 25 Test scalps against WI. Meanwhile, Rabada has a couple of fifers against the Caribbean unit as his best figures read 6/50.
300 Test wickets loading for Rabada
Having played 64 matches, Rabada has raced to 299 wickets at an average of 22.08. He has 14 fifers and 10 match four-fers to show. In 31 away matches (home of opposition), Rabada has 115 wickets at 26.90. 19 of his wickets have come in West Indies at 16.31. He can soon become the sixth bowler to complete 300 Test wickets for the Proteas side.
