Innings-loss for WI after Steyn’s six

Dale Steyn ripped through the West Indies top order to claim his 25th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and give South Africa an innings and 220-run victory on the fourth morning of the first Test.

The West Indies’ frailties with the bat were cruelly exposed by the top-ranked South Africans, with Steyn leading the charge as he finished with six for 34 having gone wicketless in the first-innings.

The visitors resumed in the morning session on 76 for two in their second innings, still trailing by 275 runs, with hopes of batting deep into the day to save the Test.

But a fired-up Steyn sparked a precession of wickets as the West Indies were bowled out for 131, unable to cope with the hostility of the home quicks.

“We didn’t expect it to finish so early, but Dale bowled exceptionally well to get us started and the wicket got difficult to bat on,” Proteas captain Hashim Amla, who was adjudged Man of the Match for his 208, said at the post-match presentation.

He also gave credit to AB de Villiers, his partner in a South African record fourth-wicket partnership of 308 and the player who also donned the gloves with regular wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock injured on day three.

Steyn had limped off on the third afternoon with a groin problem but showed no signs of discomfort as he steamed in to skittle the West Indies top order in a spell that lasted 90 minutes.

The West Indies were bowled out twice in the test in just under 103 overs, leaving them with much to contemplate ahead of the second Test in Port Elizabeth that starts on Boxing day.

Scorecard:

South Africa 552-5d (Amla 208, Roach 2-52)

West Indies 201 & 131 (Johnson 39, Steyn 6-34)