South Africa’s Dale Steyn takes six and makes short work of West Indies in first Test mismatch

Fast bowler ripped through the West Indian batting to send the tourists crashing to a humiliating defeat by an innings and 220 runs on Day 4 of the first Test.

Dale Steyn, right, of South Africa celebrates a wicket against the tourists on Saturday in Pretoria, South Africa. Duif du Toit / Getty Images

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn ripped through the West Indian batting to send the tourists crashing to a humiliating defeat by an innings and 220 runs on Day 4 of the first Test at Centurion ­on Saturday.

Steyn took six for 34 as the West Indies crashed to 131 all out after being 76 for two ­overnight.

Even allowing for an ankle injury to Kemar Roach, which has ruled the West Indian fast bowler out of the rest of the series, the first of three Tests was a mismatch.

West Indian captain Denesh Ramdin admitted that his side were only in the game for about an hour on the first day, when they reduced South Africa to 57 for three.

But they only took two more wickets as South Africa piled up 552 for five declared before their batting crumbled twice in less than a day and a half.

The West Indian batting was dismal. Leon Johnson’s 39 in the second innings was their highest score of the match, leaving Ramdin rueing poor discipline.

“I am disappointed the way the guys got out after making starts,” he said. “South Africa are the No 1 team in the world and Dale Steyn bowled a fantastic spell this morning. We need to be more disciplined against them, including myself.”

Ramdin said he expected a better performance in the second Test in Port Elizabeth, starting on December 26. West Indies won in the coastal city on their previous tour seven years ago and the pitch is expected to be slower with less bounce than Centurion.

South African captain Hashim Amla, who was named man of the match after scoring 208, voiced some sympathy for his team’s vanquished opponents.

“It was exceptional bowling from Dale,” he said.

“The pitch quickened up a bit today and it can be difficult to bat here on days four and five. Any team in the world would have struggled to handle our attack today.”

South Africa v West Indies Test schedule

First Test Centurion, South Africa won by innings and 220 runs

Second Test Port Elizabeth, Friday-December 30

Third Test Cape Town, January 2-6

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