South Africa won the first Test match of the series against West Indies in an easy fashion by beating the hosts by 163 runs. The game could, in fact, have been much more one-sided, but for a rain threat, which meant that the South Africans declared their second innings much earlier than they would have otherwise done.
South Africa had batted first after winning the toss, and were in early trouble on a rain-hit first day. They lost three wickets for 68 and on the second day, when Jacques Kallis also joined Hashim Amla back in the pavilion, the side was 107/5 and in a mire.
They were rescued by same late order batting by AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince, which was followed by a half century by Mark Boucher, that propelled the side forward to 352 in their first innings.
Estranged from the captain in the ODIs, but back in favour, Sulieman Benn, scalped a five wicket haul in the progress.
However, the going got even tougher for the West Indian batsmen, as they kept losing early wickets. The first three fell to Morne Morkel for 12, and despite a 59-run resurrection between Chanderpaul and Deonarine, the South African target looked far.
It was here that the things began to happen for the South Africans. The West Indian side was at 71/3, when they lost their six wickets for the addition of four runs, and then capitulated to 102 all out.
Steyn had captured another five wickets with his ability to reverse swing the ball and the side had conceded a lead of 250 runs.
The tourists did not enforce the follow-on. Instead, they batted on, scored another 206 runs before declaring their innings after being ahead by more than 450. Smith, their captain made a 90, making a welcome return to form.
The target was the highest ever needed to be chased in the fourth innings, but with a fragile batting that the hosts had, they failed to get going. Travis Dowlin departed early, and when Brendan Nash and Chanderpaul also managed 13 and 15 respectively, the game was beyond the home team’s reach.
Gayle did manage an innings of 73, but the rest of them failed to get a move on and collapsed to 293 all out.
Steyn got another three wickets, to end with an eight wicket haul and a man of the match award.
