TAROUBA: South Africa squandered a strong position to lose by 30 runs to the West Indies in their T20 International on Sunday, with the Caribbean side clinching an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sent in to bat first, West Indies posted a total of 179 for six. South Africa looked set for victory as they reached 129 for 3 with over six overs remaining, but they collapsed dramatically, losing their last seven wickets for just 20 runs in 35 balls to be bowled out for 149.
Reeza Hendricks made a quick 44 off 18 balls to ignite the chase, but West Indies’ bowlers excelled at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Stadium. Romario Shepherd took 3-15, dismissing Hendricks and captain Aiden Markram (19), while Shamar Joseph claimed 3-31, dismantling the lower order.
For the West Indies, Shai Hope top-scored with 41 from 22 balls, and contributions from Rovman Powell (35) and Sherfane Rutherford (29) helped set a challenging total.
Powell praised his team’s ability to turn the game around. “We put the pressure on after the powerplay. T20 cricket can change very quickly,” he said.
Markram acknowledged the defeat but was optimistic about his team’s future. “It’s tough to pinpoint the learnings right now, but we will certainly come back stronger,” the South African captain stated.
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES:
- A. Athanaze c Ferreira b Williams 28
- S. Hope c van der Dussen b Kruger 41
- N. Pooran c Rickelton b Williams 19
- R. Chase c Maphaka b Kruger 7
- R. Powell c van der Dussen b Williams 35
- S. Rutherford c Hendricks b Baartman 29
- R. Shepherd not out 9
- A. Hosein not out 3
- EXTRAS: (LB-1, W-7) 8
- TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs) 179
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-41 (Athanaze), 2-83 (Hope), 3-94 (Chase), 4-108 (Pooran), 5-155 (Powell), 6-170 (Rutherford)
DID NOT BAT: M. Forde, G. Motie, S. Joseph
BOWLING:
- Fortuin 3-0-31-0 (1w)
- Williams 4-0-36-3
- Maphaka 4-0-29-0 (2w)
- Baartman 4-0-32-1 (2w)
- Markram 2-0-21-0
- Kruger 3-0-29-2 (2w)
SOUTH AFRICA:
- R. Rickelton c Forde b Joseph 20
- R. Hendricks b Shepherd 44
- A. Markram lbw Shepherd 19
- T. Stubbs c (Sub) b Hosein 28
- R. van der Dussen c Joseph b Hosein 17
- D. Ferreira st Pooran b Motie 4
- P. Kruger c Hope b Shepherd 6
- B. Fortuin b Joseph 2
- L. Williams lbw Joseph 0
- K. Maphaka not out 3
- O. Baartman b Forde 1
- EXTRAS (LB-3, W-2) 5
- TOTAL (all out, 19.4 overs) 149
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-63 (Rickelton), 2-71 (Hendricks), 3-86 (Markram), 4-129 (Stubbs), 5-134 (Ferreira), 6-138 (van der Dussen), 7-144 (Fortuin), 8-144 (Kruger), 9-146 (Williams)
BOWLING:
- Hosein 4-0-25-2
- Forde 2.4-0-25-1 (1w)
- Chase 1-0-23-0
- Joseph 4-0-31-3 (1w)
- Shepherd 4-0-15-3
- Motie 4-0-27-1
RESULT: West Indies won by 30 runs.
