South Africa defeated West Indies by 87 runs in the opening Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday. With the victory, the hosts also took a crucial 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The tourists came out all guns blazing and packed the Proteas for 116 in the second innings. Veteran pacer Kemar Roach wreaked havoc and bagged a brilliant five-wicket haul. Barring Aiden Markram, who scored 47 runs, none of the batters from the home team stepped up as the hosts could only manage to give Caribbeans a target of 247.
In response, West Indies found themselves in all sorts of trouble after being reduced to 33/5 in 14.2 overs. The likes of Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers all failed to open their accounts. Josua da Silva and Jermaine Blackwood did show some fight and formed a partnership of 57 for the sixth wicket.
Blackwood scored 79 runs off 93 balls with the help of 12 fours and one six, but Kagiso Rabada kept on sending shockwaves to the Windies camp and never allowed them to settle. The right-arm fast bowler was at his absolute best as he finished with figures of 15-3-50-6.
Brief Scores: South Africa 342 & 116 (Aiden Markram 47; Kemar Roach 5/47) beat West Indies 212 & 159 (Jermaine Blackwood 79; Kagiso Rabada 6/50) by 87 runs.
“It is always nice to get a Test win, on hot and long days, it is quite rewarding as well. Quite comfortable going back to the top credit to the coach and captain for backing me. Very happy with how I played. Played a lot of cricket here at Centurion, and I am glad it worked out, quite a tough wicket out there,” said Markram after bagging the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
RESULT | SOUTH AFRICA WON BY 87 RUNS 🚨
Kagiso Rabada grabbed 6/50 in the second innings as the #Proteas get the Betway Test series off to a winning start 🇿🇦#SAvWI #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/jdHTBNyEsq
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 2, 2023
Kagiso Rabada joins an exclusive club 🙌
More on his latest six-wicket haul ➡️ https://t.co/Kitdb48U2y#WTC23 | #SAvWI pic.twitter.com/gRnqpUw3hZ
— ICC (@ICC) March 3, 2023
SA and WI play the first ever Test match where all 4 innings have different pacers with a fifer.
Alzarri Joseph 5/81
Anrich Nortje 5/36
Kemar Roach 5/47
Kagiso Rabada 6/50#SAvWI— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 2, 2023
6️⃣ wickets for Kagiso Rabada! 🦁👏#SAvWI
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 2, 2023
🇿🇦 | Kagiso Rabada 😤
Will never get tired of this. #BePartOfIt #SAvWI #LionsCricket #ThePrideOfJozi pic.twitter.com/8OXoKgppjg
— DP World Lions (@LionsCricketSA) March 2, 2023
Kagiso Rabada's career bowling average is 22 🔥🔥🔥 of of the world best ever 🔥🔥🇿🇦🏏
— Gills (@gpricey23) March 2, 2023
Rabada finishes it off and South Africa win the first Test by 87 runs
Nortje in the first innings 5-36
Rabada in the second innings 6-50What a pair of exquisite fast bowlers! #SAvWI pic.twitter.com/Zw1B8ipZ8g
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) March 2, 2023
Significant Milestone for @joshuadasilva08 earlier today. #MenInMaroon #SAvWI pic.twitter.com/MtR32Jye96
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 2, 2023
Most times, taking at least one wicket in 25 or more consecutive test innings :
3 M Muralitharan
2 JM Anderson
2 DW Steyn
2 J Garner
2 K Rabada#SAvWI— Sooraj Ayyappan (@Sooraj_Ayyappan) March 2, 2023
South Africa won the first Test match against West Indies by a margin of 87 runs.
In there 2nd innings WI all out on 159 runs.
Kagiso Rabada did the main damage took 6/50.
Aiden Markram won the player of the match Award of his brilliant 115 & 47 run.#SAvWI pic.twitter.com/UUcK9Fsw27
— Surinder (@navsurani) March 2, 2023