South Africa clinch Test series as Maharaj becomes leading spin bowler

South Africa secured a hard-fought 40-run victory over West Indies in the second Test in Georgetown on Saturday, clinching the series and extending their winning streak against the Windies to ten consecutive series. South Africa 160 & 246 beat West Indies 144 & 222 by 40 runs.

Keshav Maharaj played a pivotal role, taking three wickets and becoming South Africa's most successful spin bowler in Test cricket with 171 wickets, surpassing Hugh Tayfield's record. Maharaj's impressive figures of 3-37 earned him the man of the series award.

The match, which ended within three days, saw West Indies bowled out for 222 while chasing a target of 263. Kagiso Rabada also contributed significantly, taking three wickets and moving to 299 Test dismissals. Despite a promising partnership between Joshua da Silva and Gudakesh Motie, who added 77 runs and brought the target within reach, the West Indies fell short.

The game began with West Indies losing their opener, Mikyle Louis, for just four runs, nicking a catch to Wiaan Mulder off Rabada. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite followed after adding 42 runs with Keacy Carty. Jason Holder's dismissal for a duck left West Indies struggling at 104-6. Motie and Da Silva’s partnership briefly revived hopes, but Motie was trapped lbw by Maharaj for a Test-best 45, leaving the home side's chances fading.

Maharaj’s breakthrough, followed by Rabada's consistent pressure, saw South Africa take the final wickets, sealing the victory. Despite a solid effort from West Indies, no batsman managed to score a half-century in the second innings, highlighting the challenging conditions for batting.

This series win not only marked South Africa's continued dominance over West Indies but also provided them with a crucial boost in the World Test Championship standings, moving them to fifth place. West Indies, meanwhile, remained in ninth position, struggling with only one win in the tournament so far.

The Test series was characterised by low scores and challenging conditions for batsmen, with bowlers from both sides exploiting the conditions effectively. South Africa’s ability to find crucial partnerships and their bowlers' consistency ultimately made the difference. Wiaan Mulder's contributions with both bat and ball were also vital in South Africa’s win, despite questions over their team composition.

This victory sets South Africa in a stronger position as they continue their World Test Championship campaign, while West Indies will need to regroup and address their weaknesses before their next series. 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.