Windies lose test series against South Africa

Cricket with Dalchan Bissoon

Hashim Amla – South Africa skipper made 68.
Hashim Amla – South Africa skipper made 68.

South Africa coasted to an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies on the final day of the third test last Tuesday at Newlands, Cape Town and won the three-match series 2-0.

The South Africans also retain their ICC Test ranking as the number one test side in the world.

West Indies, choosing to bat first, scored 329 with Jermaine Blackwood topscoring with 56. Other good scores came from Leon Johnson with 54, skipper Denesh Ramdin with 53 and Devon Smith with 47. Dale Steyn took four for 78 and debutant off-spinner Simon Harmer took three for 71.

South Africa in reply scored 421 with AB de Villiers scoring his 21st test century 148. Faf du Plessis made 68 and skipper Hashim Amla scored 63. Jason Holder took two for 87 and Marlon Samuels two for 68.

West Indies in their second innings scored 215 with Marlon Samuels topscoring with 74. Shiv Chanderpaul made 50, his 66th half century in test cricket and just behind Sachin Tendulkar of India who has scored 68. Leon Johnson also contributed 44 as a principal scorer. Simon Harmer took four for 82 and D. Steyn three for 75.

South Africa set a target of 124 for victory and reached it quite comfortably after losing two wickets. Opener Dean Elgar was undefeated on 60 and H. Amla also not out on 38. Sulieman Benn grabbed two for 24 in just 17 overs.

AB de Villiers was voted player of the match and Hashim Amla player of the series.

West Indies will play three 20 Internationals and five One-Day Internationals. The first T20I will be played this Friday (Jan. 9) at Newlands Cape Town, the second on Jan. 11 at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, and the third on Jan. 13 at Kingsmead, Durban.