Saturday, December 20, 2014 | 8:09 AM
CENTURION, South Africa (AFP) – South African fast bowler Dale Steyn ripped through the West Indian batting to send the tourists crashing to a humiliating defeat by an innings and 220 runs on the fourth day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Saturday.
Steyn took six for 34 in Centurion as the West Indies crashed to 131 all out after being 76 for two overnight.
Even allowing for an ankle injury to Kemar Roach, which has ruled the West Indian fast bowler out of the rest of the series, the first of three Tests was a mismatch.
West Indian captain Denesh Ramdin admitted that his side were only in the game for about an hour on the first day, when they reduced South Africa to 57 for three.
But they only took two more wickets as South Africa piled up 552 for five declared before their batting crumbled twice in less than a day and a half.
The West Indian batting was dismal.
Leon Johnson’s 39 in the second innings was their highest score of the match, leaving Ramdin rueing poor discipline.
“I am disappointed the way the guys got out after making starts,” he said.
“South Africa are the number one team in the world and Dale Steyn bowled a fantastic spell this morning. We need to be more disciplined against them, including myself.”
Ramdin said he expected a better performance in the second Test in Port Elizabeth, starting on December 26. West Indies won in the coastal city on their previous tour seven years ago and the pitch is expected to be slower with less bounce than Centurion.
South African captain Hashim Amla, who was named man of the match after scoring 208, voiced some sympathy for his team’s vanquished opponents. ? It was exceptional bowling from Dale.
“The pitch quickened up a bit today and it can be difficult to bat here on days four and five. Any team in the world would have struggled to handle our attack today.”
Steyn left the field after bowling only five balls at the start of the second innings with what was described as tightness in the groin.
But South Africa’s champion fast bowler roared back to his best with a superb display of fast bowling.
Leon Johnson played and missed several times before he was caught behind in Steyn’s third over of the morning.
He was quickly followed by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who could not avoid a vicious lifting delivery and gloved a catch to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers.
Marlon Samuels was caught at cover off a leading edge off Steyn in his next over and the rest of the batting succumbed rapidly.
Steyn said the wickets of Chanderpaul and Samuels, the only West Indian batsmen with proven credentials, were crucial.
“Those two are big players. That’s not to say that the rest of the guys can’t contribute but we know those are the two wickets to get.”
Steyn agreed with Amla that the pitch had helped the bowlers more on Saturday than the previous three days.
He cautioned that it might be different in Port Elizabeth.
“The wicket’s a lot flatter so we are going to have to be more on the money there.”
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West Indies crash to humiliating defeat against South Africa
