South Africa collapsed on the third morning of their second Test match against the West Indies, losing five wickets in 11 overs as Jayden Seales took his career-best figures.
After rain delayed the start of play in Providence, South Africa resumed on 223-5 with a lead 239-run lead. Both sides were bowled out for less than 200 in the first innings, indicating that the Proteas already had a significant advantage.
With all hopes for the hosts pinned on early wickets, Jomel Warrican struck with the final ball of the opening over of play. He trapped Wiaan Mulder on the back foot right in front of the stumps. The finger immediately went up and no review was taken.
Seales carried on the momentum coming on to bowl from the other end, having taken three wickets the previous evening. Bowling to Keshav Maharaj, he sent down a length ball for his fourth of the over, which Maharaj tried to flick away into the on-side. However, he ended up chipping it straight to Gudakesh Motie at short midwicket, and was out for a two-ball duck. It was Maharaj's third duck of the series, meaning his stats for the series will finish at five balls and no runs.
After a wicketless over from Warrican, Seales came back on for the next, and was dispatched for four by Kyle Verreynne first up. However, he came back with the perfect statement, shattering Verreynne's stumps to secure his second Test five-for. It was the second five-for in the match for the West Indies, with Shamar Joseph having taken 5-33 on day one.
Seales matches Walsh with six-for
With South Africa now nine down, and Seales out of the attack in favour of Joseph, four wicketless overs went down before Warrican struck once more with the final ball of the ninth over of the morning. Having tossed the ball up outside off, Kagiso Rabada came forward to defend but managed to get an outside edge. Diving to his left in the slip cordon, Kavem Hodge just managed to get both hands to the ball and take the catch very low to the ground.
After a wicketless over from Joseph, the West Indies took the second new ball and gave it to Seales straight away. It took him just four balls to make the final breakthrough, taking a return catch off his own bowling after finding significant swing to Nandre Burger. He took it in his right hand still in his follow-through, ending South Africa's innings.
The sixth wicket took Seales to career-best figures in first-class cricket, with his previous best being 5-29. It was also the joint second-best figures for the West Indies against South Africa on home soil, equalling Courtney Walsh's 6-61 in Trinidad in 2001. Curtly Ambrose remains in the top spot in that regard, having taken 6-34 in Bridgetown in 1992.
Best figures by West Indies bowlers at home against South Africa
Curtly Ambrose, 6-34, Bridgetown (1992)
Courtney Walsh, 6-61, Port of Spain (2001)
Jayden Seales, 6-61, Providence (2024)
Suliemann Benn, 6-81, Bridgetown (2010)
Shamar Joseph, 5-33, Providence (2024)
Watch Seales seal his five-wicket haul here:
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