Maharaj hat-trick spins South Africa to series win

GROS-ISLET, Saint Lucia: Keshav Maharaj completed just the second hat-trick by a South African in Test history as the Proteas completed a 158-run victory over the West Indies on the fourth day of the second Test of the two-match series at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia on Monday.

In the penultimate over before lunch the left-arm spinner removed Kieran Powell, Jason Holder and Joshua da Silva in successive deliveries to join fast bowler Geoff Griffin, who achieved the feat at Lord’s in 1960, in the record books.

Maharaj then followed up with two of the last three to fall in the afternoon to finish with figures of five for 36 as the West Indies were dismissed for 165.

Following a comprehensive innings and 63-run victory inside three days in the first Test a week earlier at the same venue, the result gave South Africa the series 2-0, their first away series triumph since 2017 in New Zealand.

“This is huge for us because we haven’t won on the road for quite some time,” said South African captain Dean Elgar.

“There will be teething years as captain but this is a good, important step on the way forward.”

The home side began the day on 15 without loss looking at a victory target of 324. It was unlikely but given they had chased down 395 to beat Bangladesh in February, the West Indies were not without hope.

At least not until the 13th over by which stage Shai Hope had joined skipper Kraigg Brathwaite back in the pavilion, both dismissed by pace bowler Kagiso Rabada who then persuaded Kyle Mayers into an ugly hoick which spliced to Dean Elgar.

-Hat-trick -

Maharaj then stole the headlines with his hat-trick to extinguish any fading West Indian hopes of an unlikely victory.

First, opening batsman Powell, who had looked composed and assured through most of his innings of 51, lost his head completely, hoisting Maharaj to deep midwicket where Anrich Nortje barely had to move in taking the catch just metres off the boundary rope.

Score Board

West Indies won toss

South Africa 1st Innings 298 all out

West Indies 1st Innings 149 all out

South Africa 2nd Innings 174 all out

West Indies 2nd Innings

K. Brathwaite c Elgar b Rabada 6

K. Powell c Nortje b Maharaj 51

S. Hope c Markram b Rabada 6

K. Mayers c Elgar b Rabada 34

J. Blackwood c de Kock b Ngidi 25

J. Holder c Petersen b Maharaj 0

J. da Silva c Mulder b Maharaj 0

K. Roach c Ngidi b Maharaj 27

J. Seales c Nortje b Maharaj 7

S. Gabriel not out 2

R. Chase absent hurt

Extras (b-4, lb-3, nb-2, w-2) 11

Total (58.3 overs, 9 wickets) 165

Fall: 1-16 (Brathwaite), 2-26 (Hope), 3-90 (Mayers), 4-107 (Powell), 5-107 (Holder), 6-107 (da Silva), 7-147 (Blackwood), 8-158 (Roach), 9-165 (Seales)

Bowling: K. Rabada 16-3-44-3 (2nb), L. Ngidi 10-2-29-1(1w), K. Maharaj 17.3-7-36-5, A. Nortje 11-3-35-0 (1w), W. Mulder 4-0-14-0

Result: South Africa won by 158 runs

Man of the Match: K Rabada (SA)

Umpires: Joel Wilson (WIS), Gregory Brathwaite (WIS)