WI VS RSA - 2nd Test, South Africa tour of West Indies, 2021

Two comprehensive wins for South Africa. Not many expected them to blow away the Windies the way they did in the first Test. The second one was more competitive but the hosts squandered opportunities when they had a few chances to put the South Africans under the pump. Unfortunately, their batsmen never showed up. Well, that's all we've got from this encounter. The action shifts to WI's favourite format next. The 5-match T20I series starts on Saturday and expect a different West Indies side to show up. After all, they are the World Champions. Until then, it's goodbye from Abhinand Raghavendran on behalf of Akshay Maanay, Kumar Abhisekh Das and Praveen.

Dean Elgar receives the trophy and his team-mates join him to pose for the photographs. All smiles. Inserted to bat, they were reduced to 37/3 in the first session of the Test. Fifties from captain Elgar and the in-form Quinton de Kock ensured a reasonable total. With the ball swinging and seaming around every South African bowler chipped in with wickets in the first innings. In the second essay, the Proteas were in a spot of bother when they were effectively 222/7, but van der Dussen and Rabada bailed them out of trouble and ensured a 300+ target for their opponents. And, their bowlers needed less than 60 overs to wrap up the final innings on the fourth day's play..

Quinton de Kock | Player of the Series: Don't know (what clicked), just did. I am actually unsure. Like Dean said, ask the coaches. They are the ones who back us. We used to win a lot, to restart that, it feels good to be on that road again. It's great to be part of a team like this. The ball was swinging in the 75th over. It was still difficult. When the second new ball came, I felt a little bit easier. As the ball got older, it was more difficult.

Kraigg Brathwaite | West Indies captain: As a batting unit we let ourselves down. But I have to commend the bowlers, right from Kemar, Shannon, young Jayden Seales and Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers as well, all the guys put in a big effort. As a batting unit we didn't put partnerships together and we have to do better, including myself. We were going good but once again we didn't get a big partnership, we had a 50-odd partnership, obviously Powell played well but we didn't carry on. That hurt us and we missed Roston today. We have a couple of weeks before the next series, as batsmen we know our weakness and will work on it. We have to learn from this and comeback stronger. South Africa played well but we have to do better. Firstly get some rest, Test cricket is a grind and you have to get back your mental space and after that there are a few technical stuff we can work on. It is about refreshing our mind and working on the technical side of things. He (Roach) is remarkable and I look up to him when I am on the field, all the bowlers bowled well.

Dean Elgar | South Africa captain: We came here with a challenge as a squad to get a series win. This speaks volumes. It's (captaincy) a challenge, it's something I wouldn't have taken if I knew I couldn't do it. I have a talented bunch, have a great management team as well. The boys stood up. For the guys to respond like that was brilliant. I want to commend the batsmen for applying and our bowlers were brilliant. It was great to see KG do what KG does. Great to see Keshav get a fifer. KG is world-class, he's going to be world-class for years to come. He wants to win. Great character to have. It's great to have those three (pacers) in the team, glad not to face them.

Rabada | Player of the Match: It's been a while since we have won away from home. We are trying to get back on top of things. We have started our processes, so far so good, we are going to celebrate. Everyone was determined, one of the things Dean drove. Everyone had the hunger and want to get back on top. Everyone wants to put their hands up. My job is to bowl. Whenever we need lower order runs, I put my hand up. You get tested in Test cricket, it's up to us to respond. Few greats have retired. It's for the next generation to come on board. Really enjoyed bowling with them. In the first innings, the wickets were shared. It's a determined and young group. As long as we win, I don't mind how many wickets I get. From a personal milestone point of view, it was quite important.

Keshav Maharaj: It is very important for the team. We have started a new journey with Dean. Good stepping stone for us. It was important for us to be clinical. I think Powell was looking to come after me. The second one I bowled what I have been bowling throughout and it fortunately got the inside edge. And then the hat-trick, I had so many things going on in my head as to where to bowl the ball. I just bowled normally and Joshua followed it down leg. Great catch down the leg-side. I decided to do a slide. I was too excited to think anything. He (QDK) has an amazing set of hands and he has taken some amazing catches of the seamers throughout the series. Dean invests a lot of faith in spin as well. We are waiting for Dean to come and we will shower him with the choice of his beverage. There is a sense of calmness that is back in the dressing room and we are playing for each other.

14:08 Local Time, 18:08 GMT, 23:38 IST: Roston Chase (injured) won't come out to bat and it's game over! South Africa 2 -- 0 West Indies. Yet another poor batting performance from the Windies. Chasing a 300+ total, they lost two wickets to Rabada early in the day. Powell and Mayers survived the tricky phase with a half-century partnership and kept their team in the hunt. But, for the umpteenth time in the recent past, the set batsmen threw away their starts playing rash strokes and that resulted in a Calypso Collapse. 90/2 quickly became 107/6 - courtesy Maharaj's hat-trick. The result was a foregone conclusion at lunch. Roach and Blackwood delayed the inevitable with a 40-run stand for the seventh wicket. Once the latter nicked off, the tail just capitulated quickly. Presentations coming up shortly..

Maharaj to Jayden Seales, out Caught by Nortje!! Keshav Maharaj fittingly caps off the match! He claims a fifer in addition to the hat-trick he took earlier in the day. South Africa win by 158 runs. A tossed up delivery outside off, Jayden Seales gets down to slog-sweep and holes out at deep mid-wicket. Jayden Seales c Nortje b Maharaj 7(15) [4s-1]

Maharaj to Jayden Seales, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Maharaj to Gabriel, 1 run, looped up delivery, a low full toss and that's been drilled to long-off

Maharaj to Gabriel, no run, defends with the spin into the off-side

Ngidi to Gabriel, 1 run, 134kph, very full, clipped away to deep mid-wicket

Ngidi to Jayden Seales, 1 run, 136kph, very full, Seales drives past the fielder at cover

Ngidi to Jayden Seales, no run, 135kph, pitched up delivery, moves away and goes past the driving blade of Seales

Round the wicket

Ngidi to Jayden Seales, no run, 133kph, shapes up to cut, no contact made

Ngidi to Jayden Seales, FOUR, shorter and wider, Seales stands tall and wafts his bat at it. Played late and made decent contact to beat the diving gully fielder to his left. Races away to the fence

Ngidi to Jayden Seales, no run, 135kph, away-angling length ball, Seales lets it go on line

Roston Chase isn't in his whites. So, South Africa are one wicket away from a win here