WI SUFFERS WHITEWASH

Keshav Maharaj
South Africa’s spinner, Keshav Maharaj bowls during the first day of the second cricket Test match between Pakistan and South Africa at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021.
Associated Press/Anjum Naveed, File
The embattled West Indies team suffered a 2 – 0 whitewash against South Africa on Monday at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia.
The regional team was defeated by an innings and 63 runs inside three days in the first Test and again it was the team’s poor batting that let them down.
South African spin bowler Keshav Maharaj snatched a dramatic hat-trick in a devastating five-wicket haul that sent West Indies crashing to a 158-run loss on the fourth day half an hour before tea.
West Indies’ cricketer Kieran Powell bats during the third day of the first cricket Test match between India and West Indies in Rajkot, India, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018.  Associated Press/Rajanish Kakade, File

Resuming on 15 without loss after bowling out South Africa for 174 ( a lead of 169), the Caribbean side crashed from 90 for two to 109 for six at lunch, as left-arm spinner Maharaj knocked over captain, Kieran Powell (51), Jason Holder (0) and Joshua da Silva (0) in successive  deliveries in the penultimate over before the first interval.

After the break, Kemar Roach resisted with 27 and Jermaine Blackwood got 25  but West Indies collapsed for a paltry 165 with four and a half hours left, with the injured Roston Chase unable to bat .
Maharaj finished with five for 36 -his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests while Kagiso Rambada supported with three for 44 to be adjudged Man of the Match after claiming two wickets in the first Test and hitting  a critical 40 in a low-scoring  second innings on Sunday.
Scores: South Africa 298 (Quinton de Kock 96) and 174.  West Indies 149 and 174. Target:  324.