Cricket: Keshav Maharaj hat trick, South Africa seals 2-0 series win over West Indies

Keshav Maharaj. Photosport

Keshav Maharaj took a hat trick in his 5-36 to lead South Africa to a 158-run win over West Indies in the second test and a 2-0 series sweep today.

Maharaj became just the second South African to take a test hat trick when he dismissed Kieran Powell, Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva in the second-to-last over before lunch on the fourth day.

West Indies was already under pressure after fast bowler Kagiso Rabada's three wickets at the top of the order.

Maharaj hurried the home team's demise as it was all out for 165 before tea on the fourth day, well off the target of 324 set by South Africa.

Maharaj also wrapped it up when Jayden Seales was caught out on the square leg boundary.

Maharaj's three in three balls started with a key breakthrough when Powell holed out at square leg for 51. The left-arm spinner added the wickets of Holder and Da Silva, with Wiaan Mulder's low one-handed catch down to his right at leg slip sealing the hat trick. It sent Maharaj running and sliding, soccer-style, on his chest on the grass in celebration.

The only previous South African to take a hat trick in tests was Geoff Griffin against England at Lord's in 1960.