Keshav Maharaj (5-36) did the hat-trick to guide South Africa beat West Indies by 158 runs in the second and final Test match in St Lucia. Dean Elgar’s men completed a 2-0 series win inside four days.
This was South Africa’s eighth win in the last ten meetings between the two sides, and their first series win away from in more than four years. They last defeated New Zealand in New Zealand in 2016/17.
West Indies resumed Day 4 at 15/0. They needed 309 more to win the Test match and level the series. Unfortunately, they ran into Kagiso Rabada, who cleaned up Kraigg Brathwaite (6) up to dent the West Indies early. He then took two more wickets of Shai Hope (2) and Kyle Mayers (34) before Maharaj’s magic came to the contest.
In the 37th over, Maharaj dismissed Kieran Powell (51), Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva with successive balls. He became the second South African to achieve the feat, after Geoff Griffin against England at Lord’s in 1960.
Jermaine Blackwood (25) and Kemar Roach (27) shared a 40-run stand for the eighth wicket before the former fell to Lungi Ngidi (1-29). Maharaj then removed Jayden Seales (7) and Shannon Gabriel (2) to wrap West Indies up for 165, thirty-three minutes before tea.
Despite putting up an impressive show, Anrich Nortje went wicketless in the second innings.
The win marked South Africa’s second series win in four attempts with Mark Boucher at the helm. Boucher was appointed South Africa Men’s head coach in November 2019.
The two teams will play a five-match T20I series next, starting 26 June at Grenada.
Brief Scores
South Africa 298 (de Kock 96; Mayers 3-28) and 174 (van der Dussen 75*, Roach 4-52) beat West Indies 149 (Blackwood 49, Mulder 3-1) and 165 (Powell 51; Maharaj 5-36) by 158 runs. Player of the Match: Kagiso Rabada.
South Africa won the series 2-0. Player of the Series: Quinton de Kock.