West Indies Brittles Away As KG Rabada Leads South Africa To Victory Defending 247

West Indies have fell short by 79 runs in the first test match against West Indies at Centurion. They needed 247 runs to win on day 3 but they had already lost opener Kraigg Brathwaite on 0 and from theron things only got tougher for the visitors who found themselves 33/5 in the morning session of day 3.

Aiden Markram was awarded player of the match for his match defining century in the first innings and quick 47 runs innings in the second match. His innings was the difference in both innings as he was the only batter who looked comfortable on this testing track of Supersport Park.

West Indies showed some good signs of improvement from what they went through during their Australia tour. Still, the batting looks a bit infirm and frangible for they couldn’t process the momentum wicket by wicket. Well, it wasn’t going to be easy against South African fast bowling cartel paced by Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada.

When Raymon Reifer and Jermaine Blackwood were on crease, the team lost only two wickets in space of 111 runs and rest of the wickets fell for mere 101 runs. Even in the second innings, Jermaine Blackwood played a good knock, trying to hold one end together but he couldn’t find a partnership builder at the other end.

Blackwood’s 79 runs knock was highest in amongst the second innings individual score from both teams. Rostan Chase scored 22 in the first innings and a duck in the second while Jason Holder scored a duck in the first and 18 runs in second innings. The middle order is failing to contribute and this has been the problem for West Indies for a long time.

If their top order fails then the whole team only spends the time in rebuilding phase. But there are some positives, most importantly, Alzarri Joseph. The young fast bowler was consistently troubling South African batters and the dividend was paid when he bagged a fifer. In the second innings, Keemar Roach got his eleventh fifer in test cricket.

For South Africa, it was a new setup under the captaincy of Temba Bavuma. Not particular good match for him, but his team has done well. Dean Elgar who was out of form, made a 71 runs in the first innings. Bowlers were on fire, Anrich Nortje doing a great job in the first innings with a five wicket haul.

Kagiso Rabada was on fire in both innings, sending two batters back to pavillion in the first innings. He is the breakthrough guy for the team, whenever the opposition seems to climbing over, the captain calls him and he deliver more often than not. And his 6 wickets haul in the second innings was a prime example of his role in the team.