South Africa’s bowlers once again helped the visitors extend their 32-year dominance over the West Indies with a series-winning 40-run victory at Providence Stadium in Guyana.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj along with pacer Kagiso Rabada destroyed the home team’s batting to dismiss them for 222, 40 runs short of the 262 runs needed for a first Test series win over the Proteas since 1992.
It was South Africa’s 10th consecutive Test series win over the West Indies.
Maharaj was named Man-of-the-Match and Player-of-the-Series and dealt the fatal blow when he had Jaden Seales caught by David Bedingham for four.
Rabada, Maharaj, and also Wiaan Mulder and Dane Piedt pulled apart the West Indies’ middle order to set up the victory for South Africa.
Given two and a half days to chase 262 for victory, the West Indies found themselves in early trouble when Rabada got Mikyle Louis caught by Mulder to leave the score 12-1.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Keacy Carty were positive had a 42-run partnership for the second wicket before Mulder trapped Brathwaite for 25 as the West Indies fell to 54-2.
Carty on 17 was next when he chopped a wide delivery onto his stumps to leave his team stumbling on 62-3.
Kavem Hodge joined in, hitting four boundaries in his 29 from 38 balls, but was taken by Rabada as the West Indies sank into even more trouble at 99-4.
Alick Athanaze was caught for 15 off the bowling of Piedt four runs later.
Jason Holder was gone soon after, chipping a delivery from Piedt straight down to Mulder.
A 77-run partnership between Gudakesh Motie and Joshua Da Silva briefly gave the home side hope, but with 81 runs still required, Maharaj returned to dismiss both Motie LBW for 45 and Da Silva for 27 as the Windies fell to 182-8.
An unbeaten 25 runs from Jomel Warrican got the West Indies closer to the target, but it wasn’t enough.
Maharaj took 3-37 to take his series total to 13 wickets; Rabada had 3-50; and Mulder and Piedt grabbed two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Jayden Seales picked up six wickets to help dismiss South Africa for 246 after they resumed the day on 223-5.
The visitors lost their last five wickets for 23 runs as Seales ended with 6-61, while Gudakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican picked up two wickets apiece.
