SA vs WI, 3rd Session Report: Rabada's Smearing Bowling Spell Tear West Indies Away In The Chase
South Africa won the 1st Test by 87 runs (AP Photo)
Kagiso Rabada's 13th five-wicket haul bamboozled the West Indies in a chase of 247 runs at Centurion in the first Test match of the series. Jermaine Blackwood stood tall against the lethal bowling of KG and company; however, his fuel ended on 79 as the visitors got dismissed for 159.
The Windies could never settle in and save their pride after the bowling pulled off a miracle and dismantled the home team at 116 earlier in the day.
At the start of the session, the Windies had Blackwood - batting at 52 - accompanied by Jason Holder in the middle. The dual put a stabilising partnership putting their team's chase back on target, but as soon as the stand started to look threatening, KG made Holder knick behind the stumps.
The all-rounder's wicket was followed by Alzarri Joseph losing his cool against a sharp bouncer off Anrich Nortje. Soon Rabada bagged the lone fielder's prized scalp while fending at it towards the soft palms of the second slip.
The prized wicket was not just the Proteas spearhead seamer's 13th fifer in Test cricket but he also completed 50 snaps at the SuperSport Park. Furthermore, in his daunting spell, he cleaned the last wicket in the form of Kemar Roach.
Meanwhile, Aiden Markram - who smashed a brilliant century in the first innings and a 47 in the latter innings - was adjourned the Player of the Match Award.
After this cracking fixture, the caravan will head to Johannesburg for the second Test, scheduled for March 8-12.
Brief Score
South Africa (1st Innings) - 342/10 (86.3 overs)
Aiden Markam 115, Dean Elgar 71
Alzarri Joseph - 5/81, Kyle Mayer - 1/23
West Indies (1st Innings) - 212/10 (69 overs)
Raymon Reifer 62, Jermaine Blackwood 37
Anrich Nortje - 5/36, Kagiso Rabada - 2/44
South Africa (2nd Innings) - 116/10 (28 overs)
Aiden Markram 47, Gerald Coetzee 20
Kemar Roach - 5/47, Jason Holder - 2/7
West Indies (2nd Innings) - 159/10 (41 overs)
Jermaine Blackwood 79, Jason Holder 18
Kagiso Rabada - 6/50, Marco Jansen - 2/33
Result: South Africa won by 87 runs.
 "Arjun Bhalla")