Kagiso Rabada stars on day 3 with a fifer to steal an innings victory for SA in the first Test against WI
South African pacer, Kagiso Rabada completes his 10th five-wicket haul on day 3 of 1st Test to ensure the victory by an innings and 63 runs against West Indies.
Kagiso Rabada completes the task for SA just before lunch to end the 1st Test match with an innings and 63 runs victory at Saint Lucia on Saturday.
Rabada picked up only one wicket in the first innings of the hosts, when they were bowled out on 97. But he went deep in the second innings to pave the way for Proteas with the bowling figures of 5/34.
The 26-year-old completed his 10th five-wicket haul in his Test career. The hosts were trailing in the first innings by 225 runs. They were asked to bat again and they ended up on 82/4 at the end of the day.
Resuming on day 3, they hardly manage to add 80 runs and lost all their wickets on 162.
Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman, Quinton De Kock was named as player of the match following his marvelous knock on unbeaten 141 runs.
From WI, only Roston Chase was the only batsman who showed some commitment with the top score of 62 runs. The next best figures were from the replaced opening batsman, Kieron Powell, who came in as concussion replacement of Nkrumah Bonner.
Ironically, Chase played both the pacers, Anrich Nortje and Rabada brilliantly but gave his wicket to the spinner, Keshav Maharaj when he tried to play a forcing shot.
Maharaj picked up the second wicket in the match after dismissing Jason Holder earlier the day.
The pair of Chase and Jermaine Blackwood gave hopes to the WI dugout but within the next half-hour, they were undone when Blackwood played a mistimed shot and caught on mid-off off Rabada.
Wickets kept falling regularly and Nortje was the bowler to pick up the last wicket of Wiaan Mulder and defeat WI with an innings and 63 runs.
“This was important for us after what has happened over the last few months and how we’ve slid down the rankings table,”
said South African captain, Dean Elgar.
“We certainly won’t get carried away with this performance but it gives us a couple more days for rest and recuperation ahead of the second Test.”
The second Test match is to be played at the same venue and it is not yet confirmed that how many changes will WI make in the playing 11 and the skipper, Kraigg Brathwaite said that his decision to bat first was the correct one.
“I know the conditions might have been difficult for batting, but I backed us to handle it. We have to come back stronger for the second Test,”
said West Indian captain, Kraigg Brathwaite.
“I have to give credit to our bowlers, especially newcomer Jayden Seales. He is a special talent and I hope he can continue to progress from this experience.”