Fast bowler Andre Nel blasted through the West Indies lineup with a career-best 6-32 to help South Africa win by an innings and 86 runs with a day to spare in the third Test on Sunday.
South Africa’s biggest win over the West Indies also gave it the series, with a 2-0 unassailable lead in the four-Test series. The visitors retained the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy, which they have held since 1999.
”To win a series away from home is a very special moment,” said South Africa coach Ray Jennings.
”The senior players have shown me that they want to lead from the front.”
West Indies, facing a massive first-innings deficit of 252, was bowled out for 166 an hour after tea at the Kensington Oval.
Nel finished with his first-ever 10-wicket match haul, taking 10-88 and the man of the match award. Sometimes he charged down the pitch after balls to stare down his opponents, and peppered a number of the batsmen with short-pitched deliveries.
”I play with my heart and sometimes my heart comes out on my face. That’s the way I play my cricket. That’s the kind of person I am,” Nel said.
”I’ve cut down on the words and let the ball do the work, and keep working hard for my country.”
Fellow pacer Makhaya Ntini, who started the top-order slide, grabbed 2-40.
Wicketkeeper Courtney Browne top-scored for West Indies with 68.
Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored 31 but none of the other batsmen passed 15.
South Africa started the day by stretching its overnight score of 521-8 to 548-9 before captain Graeme Smith declared.
The bowlers then took over, as they did in the eight-wicket, second-test victory in Trinidad.
Ntini, the leader of the attack, struck early with wickets off consecutive balls to remove Chris Gayle (5) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (0).
Gayle, late in trying to leave a short ball alone, steered a catch to Smith at first slip, while Sarwan took his eyes off a first-ball bouncer and deflected to Herchelle Gibbs at fourth slip.
Nel then left the West Indies reeling at 17-3 with the second ball of the next over.
Wavell Hinds (11) snicked a drive to third slip where Gibbs caught him before doing a celebratory jig.
Brian Lara dulled Ntini’s hat trick attempt, and he and Chanderpaul tried to revive the flagging innings either side of lunch.
The pair added 37 for the fourth wicket before Nel made the incisive breakthroughs in the second session by removing the West Indies’ two most experienced batsmen.
Lara, following a majestic 176 in the first innings, was leg before for 13 as he shuffled across his stumps.
In Nel’s next over, Chanderpaul fell in similar fashion, trapped on the back foot by a ball that kept low. The skipper hit five fours in his 31.
Dwayne Bravo followed soon after, chasing a wide ball and edging a forcing back-foot stroke to the wicketkeeper off Kallis for 6.
At 71-6, the West Indies was in danger of falling in double figures but Browne and Ryan Hinds added 36 for the seventh wicket to take it past 100.
Hinds perished just before tea as he top-edged a sweep to short fine leg off Boje.
Nel polished off the innings with three wickets in his spell after tea, while Browne reached his maiden half-century.
Daren Powell (5) missed a tentative forward defensive stroke and was leg before at 130-8.
Browne swatted Monde Zondeki for 18 runs in one over and somewhat entertained the crowd of 7 000.
Nel sealed victory with the wickets of Fidel Edwards (2) and Browne to better his previous best figures of 6-81 against England at Centurion this year.
The fourth test starts on Friday at St. John’s, Antigua. – Sapa-AP