South Africa’s relentless bowling attack and Keshav Maharaj’s record-breaking performance propelled them to a hard-fought 40-run victory over West Indies in Guyana, securing their 10th consecutive Test series win against the Caribbean side.
Maharaj, South Africa’s leading spinner, claimed five wickets in the match and 13 in the series, surpassing the previous record of 170 wickets held by Hugh Tayfield. His exceptional bowling, coupled with Jayden Seales’ career-best 6 for 61 in South Africa’s second innings, highlighted the dominance of bowlers throughout the series.
Despite a challenging surface for batters, South Africa managed to post a competitive 246 in their second innings, thanks to half-centuries from Kyle Verreynne and Aiden Markram. The 63-run tenth-wicket partnership between Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger in the first innings also proved crucial in setting a challenging target of 263 for West Indies.
West Indies’ chase began promisingly, but they collapsed to 104 for 6 before a 77-run stand between Gudakesh Motie and Joshua da Silva reignited their hopes. However, Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s most reliable bowlers, stepped up to deny the hosts a historic victory.
The series was characterized by tough batting conditions, with no centuries scored across the two matches. West Indies struggled to form substantial partnerships in their second innings, while South Africa managed three half-century stands.
Overall, the series showcased the resilience and skill of both teams’ bowling attacks, who exploited the challenging conditions to their advantage. South Africa’s victory not only extended their dominance over West Indies but also earned them valuable points in the World Test Championship 2023-25.
