Elgar Guides South Africa to 2-0 Series Win, Retain No.1 Ratings

Cape Town: Dean Elgar guided South Africa to a series-clinching victory by eight wickets on the fifth day of the third and final Test against the West Indies at Newlands on Tuesday.

South Africa won the series by two matches to nil, with one match finishing in a rain-affected draw.

The left-handed Elgar made 60 not out as South Africa reached a victory target of 124 shortly before lunch.

It was tough going for South Africa at the start of the day after they resumed on nine for one.

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor and left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn did not concede a run until Elgar pulled Taylor for four after 26 minutes and off the 45th ball of the day.

The tall Benn was particularly difficult to score off, getting turn and bounce from a wearing pitch, with Faf du Plessis completely tied down.

Benn, who bowled Alviro Petersen with the last ball on yesterday, did not give up a run until Faf took a single off the fifth ball of his sixth over.

Du Plessis struggled to 14 off 69 balls before a ball from Benn kicked viciously and took the shoulder of his bat for Jermaine Blackwood to take a catch running back from gully.

Benn took two for 24 in an unbroken spell of 17 overs.

Elgar, who spoiled Benn's figures slightly by hitting him for six, went to his fifty off 86 balls with six fours and a six.

The scoring rate accelerated when captain Hashim Amla joined Elgar in an unbeaten partnership of 73 off 91 balls. Amla made 38 not out.

South Africa won the first Test in Centurion by an innings and 220 runs. The second match in Port Elizabeth was drawn after more than two days of playing time was lost to rain.

The sides start a three-match Twenty20 international series at Newlands on Friday, to be followed by five one-day internationals.

Brief scores
West Indies - 329 (Steyn 4-78, Harmer 3-71) and 215 (Samuels 74, Chanderpaul 50, Harmer 4-82, Steyn 3-75)
South Africa - 421 (De Villiers 148) and 124 for 2 (Elgar 60*, Benn 2-24)
Result - South Africa won by 8 wickets
MOM - AB de Villiers (South Africa)
Player of the series - Hashim Amla (South Africa)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

Rossouw and Amla Tons set up 4-1 [+]

South Africa beat the West Indies by 131 runs in the fifth and final one-day international at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.

Russell Drives West Indies to Win [+]

A thrilling burst of hitting by Andre Russell carried the West Indies to a one-wicket win over South Africa in the fourth one-day international at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

Dominant South Africa Crush West Indies, Seal Series [+]

Tahir (4-28) and Philander (3-27) and Amla (61*) and du Plessis (51*) hits unbeaten fifties as the South Africa beat West Indies in the 3rd ODI at Buffalo Park on Wednesday.

Record-breaking AB de Villiers Sets up Huge South Africa Win [+]

AB de Villiers took 31 balls to smash the fastest century in one-day internationals as South Africa crushed West Indies by 148 runs at The Wanderers on Sunday.

AB de Villiers Shines as Proteas Cruise Past West Indies [+]

South African skipper AB de Villiers blasted a stunning knock of 81runs to anchor his side to seal a 61-run Duckworth-Lewis victory over West on Friday.

Wiese, van Wyk Lift South Africa to Consolation Win [+]

Morne van Wyk blasted an unbeaten century and David Wiese took five wickets as South Africa claimed a consolation 69-run victory over West Indies in the final Twenty20 international on Wednesday.

Gayle Leads WI to World Record Chase [+]

Chris Gayle blasted 90 off 41 balls as the West Indies achieved a world record run chase in the second Twenty20 international on Sunday to beat South Africa by four wickets.

Gayle blasts West Indies to victory [+]

Chris Gayle blasted 77 off 31 balls as the West Indies beat South Africa by four wickets in the first Twenty20 international at Newlands on Friday.

Pollard Back as WI Switch to T20s [+]

Outplayed in a Test series, the West Indies will seek to turn the tables on South Africa in a three-match Twenty20 international series which starts at Newlands on Friday.

Petersen Quits International Cricket [+]

South African batsman Alviro Petersen called the quits on international cricket following the conclusion of the third Test against West Indies, as the hosts won the series 2-0.