South Africa ease to 284-run victory in second test v West Indies

JOHANNESBURG: Captain Temba Bavuma smashed a career-best 172 and Gerald Coetzee and Simon Harmer shared three wickets each as South Africa completed a 284-run victory over West Indies for a clean sweep of the two-match series at The Wanderers on Saturday (Mar 11).

South Africa had set the tourists an improbable 391 for victory on day four but skittled them out for 106 in 35.1 overs as spinner Harmer took advantage of the turn on offer to record figures of 3-45 and Coetzee put in a fiery spell to finish with 3-37.

Joshua Da Silva was the innings top scorer for the West Indies with 34, but as has been the case all series they battled to keep out the home attack on wickets with pace and bounce.

"I think from the time we made the decision about the composition of the team (playing two spinners), we were hoping the conditions would end up playing this way and fortunately we got it right," Bavuma said at the post-match presentation.

"The guys played their role. Simon, Kesh played really well. I’m very satisfied and glad I was able to contribute."

The victory may have come at a cost for South Africa though, with spinner Keshav Maharaj stretchered off the field after he injured himself while exuberantly celebrating a wicket.

South Africa started day four on 287 for seven with Bavuma seeking to record a maiden test double-century having reached three figures for only the second time in his 56-match career.

But he added just one run to his overnight score before he was caught on the pull by Kemar Roach off the bowling of the excellent Jason Holder (3-48).

West Indies eventually dismissed the hosts for 321, one more than South Africa’s first innings score, but never looked likely to chase down the victory target themselves.

Fast bowler