Gerald Coetzee and Simon Harmer shared three wickets each as South Africa completed a 284-run victory over West Indies for a clean sweep of the two-match series on Saturday. Captain Temba Bavuma was earlier dismissed for a career-best 172.

South Africa had set the visitors an improbable 391 for victory on Day IV but skittled them out for 106 in 35.1 overs as spinner Harmer took advantage of the turn on offer to record figures of 3/45 and Coetzee put in a fiery spell to finish with 3/37.

Joshua Da Silva was the innings top scorer for the West Indies with 34, but as has been the case all series they battled to keep out the home attack on wickets with pace and bounce.

“I think from the time we made the decision about the composition of the team (playing two spinners), we were hoping the conditions would end up playing this way and fortunately we got it right,” Bavuma said at the post-match presentation.

“The guys played their role. Simon, Kesh played really well. I’m very satisfied and glad I was able to contribute.”

The victory may have come at a cost though, with spinner Keshav Maharaj stretchered off the field after he injured himself while exuberantly celebrating a wicket.

Brief scores: SA 320 & 321 (Temba Bavuma 172). WI 251 & 106 (Gerald Coetzee 3/37 Simon Harmer 3/45). SA won by 284 runs.

Mitchell drives NZ

Christchurch: A Daryl Mitchell century and a brilliant 72 from Matt Henry helped New Zealand to an unlikely first-innings lead of 18 runs before the home bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 83 for three at the end of the third day of the first Test on Saturday.

Sri Lanka will take a 65-run lead into Day IV in Christchurch but that will be scant consolation for blowing a dominant position in a match they need to win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final.

The Black Caps resumed on 162/5, still trailing Sri Lanka’s 355 by almost 200 runs, but Mitchell quickly made it clear he was determined to cut the deficit to a manageable tally as he worked his way to his fifth Test century.

After all-rounder Michael Bracewell had departed for 25, Mitchell put on 47 with skipper Tim Southee (25).

Brief scores: SL 355 & 83/3. NZ 373 (Daryl Mitchell 102, Matt Henry 72).

Reuters