South Africa triumph over West Indies thanks to Kagiso Rabada's six wicket haul

Kagiso Rabada's lethal bowling led South Africa to a resounding 87-run victory over West Indies in the first Betway test match.

Rabada, who claimed his 13th five-wicket haul, dismissed the West Indies for 159 in just 41 overs midway through the final session of the third day at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday.

West Indies was set a challenging 247 for victory on a pitch that increasingly favoured the fast bowlers. However, they slumped to 93 for six at tea, with Rabada's fearsome short-ball assault accounting for several wickets.

Rabada dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck with his third ball, and his brutal pace and accuracy undid Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, and Kyle Mayers in quick succession.

Jermaine Blackwood was the hero in a losing cause for the visitors, scoring a defiant and calculated 79 in 93 balls to add to his 37 in the first innings. Blackwood struck 12 fours and a six, drove well down the ground, and never took a step back despite facing some fiery short-pitched bowling.

South Africa lost their last six wickets in the morning, reaching a modest total of 116 in 28 overs. Only Aiden Markram (47) and Gerald Coetzee (20) reached 20, and Kemar Roach picked up a five-for. Sixteen wickets fell on each of the last two days, underscoring the dominance of the fast bowlers.

The Man of the Match award went to Markram, who scored a superb 115 on the first day and another powerful 47 in the second innings. Speaking after the match, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma admitted that it had been a "crazy hour" in the morning when South Africa was dismissed for 116 in their second innings.

He praised his bowlers for defending a modest total and said that he wanted them to "rest up" in the days before the next test.

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite conceded that his team needed to improve its decision-making and mental approach to batting. "Batting for not much more than 100 overs for both our innings was not good enough," he said.

Overall, it was a match for the fast bowlers, with Azarri Joseph, Anrich Nortje, Roach, and Rabada all claiming five-wicket hauls. However, Rabada's control of length and fearsome short-ball assault set him apart, leading South Africa to a decisive victory.