The three-fers from Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj turned the contest on it’s head. Dane Piedt and Wiaan Mulder too picked up a brace in a thrilling finish as West Indies folded for 222 in reply of a target of 263 runs in the second test at Guyana. Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s two most reliable bowlers on the tour, denied the hosts despite a fighting effort from the tail.
Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada took three wickets apiece to lead South Africa to a 40-run win over the West Indies in the second and final Test at Providence on Saturday. South Africa completed the victory in three days after bowling the Windies out for 222, having set them a target of 263 to win the Test.
The rain-affected first game in Trinidad was drawn but the second Test victory means South Africa have won 10 successive series against the Windies. Keshav Maharaj, named Player of the Series, finished with 3/37, going past off-spinner Hugh Tayfield’s tally of 170 wickets to become South Africa’s most successful spinner in Test cricket. Senior pacer Kagiso Rabada, also crucial to the Proteas’ win, is now on 299 Test scalps.
Pitch and Toss
It’s pitch number 4, we are told that this pitch offers uniform dimensions. Water content and hardness looks good as well. It’s a surface that excites me, there’s a good grass covering, it will offer pace for strokeplay and the pacers will also get some extra bounce, reckon Daren Ganga and Vernon Philander
South African skipper Temba Bavuma wins the toss and elect to bat with 2 changes in the playing XI as Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger coming in for Lungi Ngidi and Ryan Rickleton. West Indies skipper Kraigg Braithwaite who also wanted to bat first made one change in Playing XI bringing in Shamar Joseph for Kemar Roach.
Day 1 : Pacers run riot as 17 wickets fall on Day 1 in Guyana
A frenetic day of Test match cricket saw 17 wickets fall on Day 1 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Following the draw at the Port of Spain in Trinidad, with 148 overs lost due to rain, the second Test began in contrasting fashion. Shamar Joseph (5 for 33) and Jayden Seales (3 for 45) broke the back of South African batting. But Nandre Burger (2 for 32) and Wiaan Mulder (4 for 18) left the West Indies in tatters at the end of day’s play at 97 for 7, with South Africa still leading by 63 runs.
South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first on what looked like a good wicket with a decent covering of grass. Aiden Markram got the Proteas up and running in the first over with a cover drive for four. Tony de Zorzi, who looked in fine touch in Trinidad, lost his off-stump through the gate as the ball seamed inwards. With a hint of lateral movement, the West Indian pacers kept a tab on the scoring rate of the South Africans in the first hour.
Joseph, who came in for Kemar Roach, struck twice in his third over. He first accounted for Markram, who left a ball outside off-stump that jagged back in considerably to have him bowled. He followed it up with a similar delivery keeping low to captain Temba Bavuma, and trapping him in front. Tristan Stubbs and David Bedingham began a mini counter-attack after drinks but the former perished edging one to slip.
With the ream reeling at 97 for 9, Nandre Burger and Dane Piedt knocked the ball around and punished the loose deliveries with boundaries in a fighting last wicket stand of 63 runs. Gudakesh Motie was hit by Piedt for a four and a six in an over where he erred in control.
They successfully frustrated the West Indies for 20 overs but the resistance came to an end when Motie trapped Burger in front as South Africa wrapped up at 160 at Tea. West Indies might have gone into the break as the happier side but South Africa were out to change that. And change that, they did.
Burger bowled a jaffa to uproot Mikyle Louis’ off stump in the second over of the innings. Keacy Carty, who had a decent debut just last week, scored a flurry of boundaries to get the scoreboard racing. The move by South Africa to bring Mulder in early worked wonders as he immediately castled skipper Kraigg Brathwaite. Alick Athanaze fell soon after as Mulder hung on to a reflexive catch of his own bowling. He followed it up with another wicket as Hodge nicked it to third slip, making it three in as many of his overs.
Carty, who was playing a positive counter-attacking knock, was the next to go flicking one to midwicket off Burger. Mulder came back to pick up Joshua da Silva that left the hosts reeling at 56 for 6. Holder was positive against Mulder, scoring two boundaries in an over. Motie stayed in there occupying the crease while Holder picked up the odd boundary. With stumps on the horizon, Motie missed the pull of a short delivery of Maharaj to which he was adjudged LBW, bringing a rollicking day of Test cricket to an end.
Day 2 : Aiden Markram, Verreynne help South Africa take control on Day 2
The Day 2 in Guyana continued to be an eventful passage of Test match cricket, after 17 wickets fell on Day 1, with South Africa taking the ascendancy with a 239-run lead. The bowlers clipped off West Indies’ last-three wickets relatively quickly before Aiden Markram (51), Kyle Verreynne (50*) and Wiaan Mulder (34*) showed their grit and tenacity with the bat.
South Africa wasted no time in picking up from where they had left off overnight. Four overs after play commenced on Day 2, Jomel Warrican was caught at mid-on off Kagiso Rabada, the pacer’s first wicket in the game so far. Nandre Burger had Jayden Seales trapped in front for naught soon after, in what looked like a tame response by the West Indies.
But, Jason Holder brought up his fifty in style with a six over Mulder’s head while Shamar Joseph smashed Burger for two boundaries and a six in a 14-run over. Joseph found the boundary a couple more times before he was given out LBW after missing a slog-sweep. South Africa had gained a slender 16-run lead.
Tony de Zorzi drove through covers in the first over of the innings for four while opening partner, Aiden Markram did so four balls later off Holder. Markram looked in fine touch finding the boundaries with relative ease and also pushing for threes. The pitch too had settled down with not as much lateral movement on offer in comparison to Day 1.
Markram dug into Seales after Lunch with three boundaries in an over. The pair brought up the fifty partnership within 10 overs, going at a healthy rate of five runs an over. The pair cashed in on the pacers wayward lengths and scored a boundary in the first six overs after lunch. De Zorzi departed nicking one to the keeper after a fine start and a good opening partnership. Markram was dropped on 42 by Alick Athanaze, in more frustration for the West Indies, few overs before Tea.
Markram nudged one to deep backward point to bring up his fifty, his third away from home. The southpaw was trapped in front by Gudakesh Motie off a ball which kept slightly low. Skipper Temba Bavuma, scored a streaky boundary of Motie but luck wasn’t on his side as the bowler had him rapped on the pads, sending him back to the sheds.
The resistant Tristan Stubbs fell, caught behind off Seales. West Indies had suddenly roared back with three quick wickets for just 14 runs. David Bedingham followed with a 10-ball duck, chopping a delivery back on to the stumps.
The visitors collapsed from 120 for 1 to 140 for 5 which brought Verreynne and Mulder to the crease. The latter was up and running with a boundary off a full toss. Verreynne almost chopped one on but it raced away for four. The two batters consolidated brilliantly after the mini collapse, finding the boundary quite regularly and rotating the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking. Warrican was finally brought on, in the 61st over, but Verreynne climbed into him soon with a boundary down long-on.
Mulder survived a review after playing down the wrong line. Verreynne played a deft touch off the pads for four while Mulder smashed Motie for six over long-off. Verreynne brought up his fifty in the last over of the day with a single down the ground. Mulder ended the day’s play with a six to put the Proteas in cruise mode with an unbeaten 84-run partnership and a healthy lead.
Day 3 : Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj seal series win for South Africa against resilient West Indies in 2nd test.
However, the three-fers from Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj turned the contest on it’s head. Dane Piedt and Wiaan Mulder too picked up a brace in a thrilling finish as West Indies folded for 222 in reply.
A change in ball immediately brought about a change in fortunes for West Indies as Jomel Warrican struck in the first over of the day. He trapped Wiaan Mulder in front with an arm ball which kept low, which the batter missed after going deep into the crease. Maharaj was gone for a pair – and his third consecutive duck – in the next over, chipping one off Jayden Seales to mid-wicket. Seales came back to castle Kyle Verreynne, picking up a five-fer as the West Indies continued their remarkable comeback in the morning session.
Rabada was next to fall, nicking one to first slip while the resistant Nandre Burger too fell for naught as Seales took a brilliant reflex catch off his own bowling. Having withered away like a pack of cards on the third morning, South Africa finished with 246 after losing their last-five wickets for just 23 runs.
Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis started off cautiously against Rabada and Burger, who started with good lines. Brathwaite stood tall to score a boundary through the covers off the backfoot against Burger. Rabada induced the edge of Louis which Mulder gobbled up at third slip. Keacy Carty continued his positive style of play, caressing a ball through covers overpitched by Burger. Carty and Brathwaite continued to find the boundary with some regularity before Lunch, keeping the West Indies in the hunt at 43 for 1 at the session break.
A poor delivery by Burger helped continue the run flow for the hosts as Brathwaite tucked it away off the pads for four. Mulder, who picked a four-fer in the first innings, dismissed Brathwaite LBW on 25. He struck again few overs later and Carty dragged one on to the stumps with South Africa roaring back into the match.
Kavem Hodge pulled three boundaries and even hit Rabada for two in an over. Soon Hodge started targeting the pacer as he pulled the bowler for two boundaries in an over for the second time. But Rabada had the last laugh as he got Hodge to chop one onto his stumps, ending a positive innings. Dane Piedt picked up his first as Athanaze’s sweep only went off the top edge, which Markram at first slip caught easily. Jason Holder holed out to long-on for a duck as West Indies slipped to 104 for 6 close to Tea.
Gudakesh Motie and Joshua da Silva brought up a 77-run partnership as both played attacking shots against the spinners to bring the game back into the balance. But Keshav Maharaj dismissed Motie on 45 with an arm ball, trapped in front of the stumps. One brought two as da Silva was given out to a ball that straightened after pitching and suddenly the West Indies were eight-down.
Temba Bavuma pulled off a blinder, jumping in the air to catch the ball with his right-hand and send Shamar Joseph on his way, giving Rabada his third. Warrican was resilient and even hit a four and a six to show that the fight was still there. But, Maharaj induced the inside edge which David Bedingham safely pouched at forward short leg to give South Africa a 40-run win.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Temba Bavuma the winning skipper said : The emotions were little bit up and down. Glad the weather held up. Both teams were in the game. We had to keep working hard. The game went our way fortunately. With a bit of inexperience, you kind of expect that. We leant on to the bowlers to deliver for us.
Rabada leading the pacers and the spin department was led by Keshav. We just need to keep building. We are an inexperienced team. The more the guys play, the more confident they will become. We can be a formidable side.
Kraigg Braithwaite the losing skipper said : Our first innings total was bad. We did well with the ball on the first day. The mindset was to have intent. We didn’t get the partnerships. There was some fight from Motie and the lower order. Some rash shots in the first innings. Our first innings was crucial.
Bowlers did a fantastic job after losing the toss. We fought and fought back. The sky is the limit. Seales is a star. Joseph is similar. We also have Kemar who didn’t play. Very exciting indeed with the pacers we have.
Wiaan Mulder Player of the Match said : I just want to play. I wanted an oppurtunity. I am happy to get a chance. I tried to play in England. They indicated me what they wanted of me. I just try keep doing my best. I just tried to bowl wobble seam balls. When I try to swing, I lose my lines. Basically, I tried to bowl it at the sticks.
Keshav Maharaj Player of the Series said : Was nice to get a long haul. We did well. We enjoyed it. Lot of positives. But back to the drawing board and on to the next one. I pride myself on Test cricket. Just staying loyal to the game. Bavuma allows me to read the game
South Africa secured a 10th successive Test series win against West Indies, and earned a vital second win in the World Test Championship 2023-25, with a hard-fought 40-run victory in Guyana. In the process, Keshav Maharaj became the most successful spinner in their Test history with 171 wickets, including five in this match and 13 in the series. His success eclipsed an exceptional effort from Jayden Seales, who took 12 wickets across the two matches and a career-best 6 for 61 in South Africa’s second innings in Guyana.
Seales ensured West Indies were left with a gettable, but tough, target of 263 and their chase had all the makings of a classic. They slumped to 104 for 6, before a 77-run stand between hometown hero Gudakesh Motie and Joshua Da Silva put them within sight of a historic victory. Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s two most reliable bowlers on the tour, denied the hosts despite a fighting effort from the tail.
In a series that was tough for batters with no centuries across the two Tests, no West Indian got a second-innings half-century and they had only one partnership above fifty in the match. In contrast, two South African batters got fifties in the second innings and had three half-century stands in the match. The 63-run tenth-wicket stand between Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger in the first innings proved decisive too.
Overall, it was a series for the bowlers, who benefitted from a surface that was tough for run-scoring in Trinidad and a venue with swing, seam movement and good bounce in Guyana. Shamar Joseph enjoyed his first home Test with 5 for 33 in the first innings but a collective effort from South Africa’s attack gave them the edge where it mattered the most.
Wiaan Mulder, operating as the third seamer and sole seam-bowling allrounder, took six wickets in the Test, scored an important 34 in the second innings and shared in an 85-run sixth-wicket partnership with Kyle Verreynne to set up South Africa’s win. His contributions mitigated some of the questions over South Africa’s team composition. They were a bowler short in Trinidad and a batter short in Guyana but found a way to defend a total on a surface that was only three days old and improved for batting.
Seales and Joseph tried their hearts out. They bowled with fire and aggression. The wicket suited their style as well. But SA applied themselves better and that has helped them to clinch this. Mulder’s contribution with the ball and the bat has helped the SA unit immensely. They had gone in with two spinners for this game and Piedt’s contribution with the bat is where it all started for the SA unit. His valuable runs in the end were priceless.
A fascinating game to conclude the Test series as SA edged WI by 1-0. After the first Test was rain-affected and ended as a draw, this game saw a number of ups and downs and kept everyone hooked until the final outcome. The Proteas seized the crunch moments and had that killer instinct that enabled them to come out victorious.
The hosts had their moments but weren’t consistent enough and that cost them the game. The fielding and catching were also a let down for WI – the margin for error is low and these things make a massive difference in these kinds of close games. The pitch had a lot of assistance for the seamers and they made merry. The batters who applied themselves scored runs. All in all, a great game of cricket. Both the teams will now face each other in 3 T20Is series starting on Friday.