South Africa Head Coach Shukri Conrad raises a stern red flag for India and Australia ahead of WTC Final

South Africa have earned crucial points in their quest to reach the WTC final in 2025. They have won the Test series against West Indies 1-0 by winning the second Test by 40 runs.

West Indies needed 263 runs to win the second Test in Guyana. They were bowled out for 222 in the second innings with GUdakesh Motie (45) top-scoring in the second innings.

The top order failed to give the team a good start and nothing came from the middle order either as the batting sort of collapsed.

For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj took three wickets each in the second innings to bowl out the hosts. There was no resistance from any of the batters. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite scored 25 opening the batting.

Barring Motie's 45 none of the other batters were able to score more than 30. The first-inning batting effort was even poor for the side as they were bowled out for 144.

The Test match finished inside three days with South Africa beginning the day on 223/5. The Windies bowlers came back strong as the Proteas were bowled out from 223/5 to 246 all out. Jayden Seals took 6/61 in the second innings as Motie and Jomel Warrican took two each.

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West Indies chasing 263 to win started cautiously and were 54/1. They lost their second wicket for 54 and the batting collapse started.

Rabada and Maharaj took three each to outshine Jayden Seals who picked up a six-fer. Ultimately, the side was bowled out for 222 with South Africa winning by 40 runs to win the series 1-0.

South Africa in the process, maintained their unbeaten run against West Indies in a Test series that started way back in 1998/99.

The Test series win helped South Africa to lift themselves to fifth on the WTC points table from seventh. England are placed seventh, Bangladesh eighth, and West Indies ninth.

West Indies next play a two-match Test series each against Bangladesh and Pakistan between November 2024-January 2025. South Africa next play a two-match Test series each against Sri Lanka followed by Pakistan from November 2024-January 2025 as well.

There Is That Possibility: Shukri Conrad On South Africa Playing WTC Final

Shukri Conrad the head coach of the South African cricket team said after his team's win they they are eyeing to make it to the WTC 2023-25 final.

"We know that if we win every Test match that there is that possibility (of getting to the WTC final). And we're really thrilled that there might be something for us at the end of this. There's World Cups in every other format and no reason why Test cricket shouldn't have something like this" he said.

He further spoke about the pitch that saw the Test match finished in three days. Both teams batted twice in three days and faced some good-quality bowling. South Africa persevered through the tough spells and came out on the winning side.

"It was a really good pitch for Test cricket. You want some challenges against the fast bowlers, especially on day one. That was a major contributing factor to getting a result in the manner we did because the bowlers were always in the game. And when you have two inexperienced batting line-ups, with really good bowlers on each side, you're able to achieve those results" Conrad concluded.

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