South Africans won their First Test Match against West Indies played at Port of Spain during 10th to 14th June 2010.  South Africans crushed West Indies by 163 runs with more than a day to spare.  However the credit for South African victory should go to the West Indians because teams like West Indies always make their opponents believe in themselves.

West Indies began the series unexpectedly well restricting South Africa to 352 .  A first innings score of 352 is definitely a cause of worry for the batting team but if the opponents are West Indies then it is not a major cause for worry because every opponent knows that teams like West Indies are known for self destruction and are only a batting collapse away from giving their opponent a chance in the match.  On expected lines West Indies collapsed to 102 and what was worse it  that their batsmen lasted a mere 47.1 overs.  With so many one dayers being played teams are mentally prepared  and batsmen skilled enough to last out at least 50 overs but West Indians failing to last 50 overs in a Test Match is simply unpardonable. The West Indian batsmen either lacked determination or were not skilled enough or it was a combination of both that led to a familiar collapse.

Once West Indies gifted a 250 run first innings lead to South Africa the only interest left in the match was for South African players to get some easy runs and boost their career run tallies and averages.  South African skipper Smith  did exactly that raching close to a century and when he failed to get on to a century falling for 90, the innings was declared closed and the bowlers completed the formalities with support from West Indian batsmen.


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