In a thrilling display of fast bowling on a pace-friendly pitch, South Africa triumphed over West Indies by 87 runs in the first test match held at Centurion. With the teams’ batting collapsing on the third day, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada shone, taking 6-50 in the final innings to restrict the West Indians to 159 all out while chasing 247 for victory.
Despite Jermaine Blackwood’s impressive 79, Rabada proved too much for the West Indies, who lost their ninth wicket to the bowler when Blackwood tried to fend off a short ball and edged to Aiden Markram in the slips. Rabada’s fifth wicket and removal of Kemar Roach lbw in the same over secured South Africa’s victory and a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
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South Africa’s first-innings lead of 130 proved enough, as both teams’ batters struggled in their second innings, with the Proteas all out for 116, their lowest test total at Centurion. Roach’s 5-47 was instrumental in dismissing South Africa, but the West Indies’ hopes of victory disappeared when they slumped to 33-5 in just 14.2 overs of their chase.
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Rabada struck in the first over, and Marco Jansen’s 2-33 backed up Rabada as Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s new test captain, celebrated his victory in his first game as captain. Although the team’s batters struggled, Bavuma’s captaincy was impressive, and he marked his debut with a pair of ducks.