South Africa won by 87 runs
West Indies threatened to turn the tables on South Africa by rolling them over for 116 on the third morning at SuperSport Park, but their own batters collapsed in similar spectacular fashion, chasing 247. Kagiso Rabada was chiefly responsible for that collapse, bagging 6 for 50 to dismiss them for 159 and seal South Africa's victory inside three days on a track that offered variable bounce.
Jermaine Blackwood's thrilling counterattack - 79 off 93 balls - raised West Indies' hopes, but Rabada found a little extra kick off the pitch to take him out and ensure the new era under captain Temba Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad began with a victory in Centurion, where the South Africa women's team that reached the T20 World Cup final five days ago was also in attendance.
It was Roach who had set the scene for the day with his 11th five-for in Test cricket - and first away from home since 2017. He also surpassed Joel Garner's tally of 259 to become West Indies' fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Just before lunch, Roach was warmly welcomed back by his team-mates, Jimmy Adams, West Indies' director of cricket, and Brian Lara, the team mentor.
However, the mood and tempo of the match changed quickly when Rabada struck either side of the lunch break. After having captain Kraigg Brathwaite caught down the leg side for a duck, he drew an outside edge from No. 3 Raymon Reifer.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul kept playing and missing at full balls, but wasn't particularly flustered against that length. It was the short ball that bothered him. He fell on his backside twice while trying to deal with them and then when he dared to hook a head-high bouncer from Marco Jansen, he could only top-edge it to midwicket for 10.
Markram | Player of the Match: It is always nice to get a Test win, on hot and long days, it is quite rewarding as well. Quite comfortable going back to the top credit to the coach and captain for backing me. Very happy with how I played. Played a lot of cricket here at Centurion and I am glad it worked out, quite a tough wicket out there. It starts off quite slow and once the sun comes up, the cracks open up. (On the pitch) It was quite hard to bat on as it kept quickening up throughout the Test match. It was a bit up and down and there was also some lateral movement for the bowlers. (On his performance) A bit fortunate but will take it.