Win Projections to be updated soon
Cricket enthusiasts across the globe witnessed a thrilling Test encounter between South Africa and West Indies. After a lot of limited-over cricket, the cricket world is witnessing the red ball cricket. After the first match ended in a draw, South Africa registered a 40-run win in the second match and won the series. The South African showcased outstanding class throughout the second match. Coach Shukri Conrad noted that the 2025 WTC final at Lord’s motivates the team amid their transition.
Conrad on This Exceptional Win:
In the Second Test at Providence Stadium, South Africa won convincingly. After winning the toss, South Africa chose to bat first but struggled, being dismissed for 160 runs. West Indies bowler Shamar Joseph starred with five wickets. The West Indies batters then scored 246 runs, with Jason Holder remaining unbeaten on 54.
South Africa bounced back in their second innings. Aiden Markram scored a crucial half-century, and Kyle Verreynne added 59 runs. West Indies bowlers managed to pick wickets but faced a strong response. South Africa’s bowlers excelled, with Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj taking 3 wickets each, while Dane Piedt and Wiaan Mulder claimed 2 wickets each. South Africa won by 40 runs.
After the win, South Africa moved to the fifth spot of the World Test Championship points table. After the win, coach Shukri Conrad said, “We’ve got a big couple of months ahead of us to grow as a Test team. At the end of that, if we do very well and we win enough games, we can end up in the World Test Championship final. But that’s not the only goal of the team. It’s also to grow as a team.”
Praising the Young Squad:
South Africa appeared in the Test series with an inexperienced squad. Apart from Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and skipper Temba Bavuma, no other batters played 50 Test matches. But even after this, the squad fought hard and clinched an impressive victory.
While praising the efforts, Conrad said, “ With young and inexperienced batters, you almost factor in that every now and again you’re going to have a few aberrations with the bat. But the vital signs are there that we can go and become a really good test unit.”
South Africa won the match but their struggle while batting would be a matter to think off. In crucial times, South Africa lost crucial wickets. Conrad opened up on that. He said, “The skillsets are there. It’s really just experience we need. With experience, you’ll find fewer soft dismissals and less of the falling over when bowlers bowl well and we’ll be able to put up more of a fight with the bat.”
Praising the Bowling Efforts:
In the entire Test series, the South African bowlers shined moreover the batters. Wiaan Mulder was a gem for his team in the second Test match. The bowler secured 4 wickets just by conceding 32 runs in the first innings. He carried on the form even in the second innings and secured 2 wickets. Mulder has played just three Tests in the last two years and struggled to secure a regular spot, but this performance could change that.
The South African coach praised his extraordinary performance. He said, “Wiaan has obviously been in and around the Test side without getting a regular spot, and his performances sometimes haven’t warranted him getting a really good run. But at some stage, you give someone a run and you back them and you see where you come out.”
Later he added, “We always knew that Wiaan’s got the ability, and it’s great to see that he’s added a few yards [of pace] with the ball. He’d also be the first one to tell you that he’s slightly disappointed that he didn’t go on and convert the start he got in the second innings and make that a big one but that’s part of the process.”
Keshav Maharaj’s performance was thrilling. The spinner secured 13 scalps in these two Test matches. For that outstanding contribution, he was awarded Player of the Series. Maharaj has now become South Africa’s leading wicket-taking spinner. While praising him, the coach said, “Kesh is an absolute workhorse, an absolute professional, and he just keeps going, And I’m thrilled that he nailed that record. It’s richly deserved.”
Later he added, “He’s great in the change room. He’s a great sounding board for players and coaches, a really good team guy and someone that you can easily dub Mr. Reliable. When you’re transitioning, you need someone like that in your team.”
The Goal After This:
South Africa’s recent win dramatically affected the World Test Championship points table, moving them from seventh to fifth, overtaking England and Pakistan. This victory has solidified South Africa’s standing and improved their chances in the competition. Each match comes with high expectations, but Conrad welcomes the challenge.
Being optimistic, Conrad said, “We know that if we win every Test match that there is that possibility (of getting to the final). And we’re really thrilled that there might be something for us at the end of this. There’s World Cups in every other format and no reason why Test cricket shouldn’t have something like this.”
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