Watch: Keshav Maharaj Stuns The West Indies As He Becomes The Second South African Bowler To Claim A Test Hattrick

South Africa Test specialist Keshav Maharaj became only the second bowler from the rainbow nation to claim a hattrick. Keshav Maharaj has been in the South African Test setup since 2016 and became a regular fixture in recent times; however, his moment of reckoning had not come until Monday (June 21st, 2021). The left-arm spinner’s three consecutive wickets killed the game for the West Indies on day four of the second Test in Gros Islet.

West Indies had bowled out South Africa for 298, with Quinton de Kock and Dean Elgar being the ones to score half-centuries. In response, the tourists bundled out the Caribbeans for an underwhelming 143 in the first innings, gaining a 155-run lead. All-rounder Wiaan Mulder picked three wickets, with Jermaine Blackwood top-scoring with 49. But the West Indies reduced the Proteas to 73-7 at one stage in the second innings.

Rassie van der Dussen and Kagiso Rabada added a quick-fire 70 for the eighth wicket to rescue the tourists. The former finished unbeaten at 75, setting the West Indies 324 to win. After losing Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope early on, the hosts delivered a counterattack through Kyle Mayers and Kieran Powell.

The pair added 64 before Rabada broke the stand. Powell, who scored 51, was the first one to become Keshav Maharaj’s victim as the West Indies slid to 107-4. The 31-year old’s ninth over and the 37th over of the innings saw him dismiss Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva in the next two deliveries. Da Silva’s dismissal witnessed Mulder take a one-handed stunner at leg slip to make Maharaj the first South African spinner to bag a Test hat trick. The spinner currently has figures of 10-5-15-3.

Below is the video of Keshav Maharaj’s hattrick:

Now we can start #proteafire again. This is how Keshav Maharaj got his Hat-trick #WIvSA WOW! pic.twitter.com/b0BN2GqoyE

— Sivuyile "Siviwe" (@ssimandla) June 21, 2021

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