WI's performance in T20I against SA

A comprehensive team effort with both bat and ball saw West Indies deliver a clinical performance in the second T20I against South Africa, securing a 30-run win at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. Shai Hope’s 22-ball 41 set the tone, with solid contributions from Alick Athanaze, Rovman Powell, and Sherfane Rutherford helping West Indies post a competitive 179/6. Reeza Hendricks top-scored for South Africa with a brisk 44 off 18 balls, but the hosts’ bowling trio of Romario Shepherd (3-15), Shamar Joseph (3-31), and Akeal Hosein (2-25) combined effectively to bowl out the visitors for 149, sealing the series with one match to spare.

Athanaze provided West Indies with a quick start after South Africa chose to bowl first, while Hope added a steady 13 runs during the powerplay. Athanaze’s aggressive knock, featuring two fours and two sixes, ended in the sixth over when he mistimed a pull shot off Lizaad Williams. Hope then took charge, smashing two sixes off Aiden Markram and another two off Kwena Maphaka. He got his fourth six in Patrick Kruger’s over before being dismissed for 41, leaving West Indies at 90/2 at the halfway mark.

South Africa struck back with quick wickets as Roston Chase and Nicholas Pooran fell in consecutive overs to Kruger and Williams. However, an expensive 15th over from Bjorn Fortuin, which yielded 18 runs including two sixes and a four by Rutherford, swung the momentum back in West Indies’ favour. Despite South Africa managing tight overs from Maphaka and Beuran Hendricks in the death, West Indies finished just short of 180.

In response, Hendricks got South Africa off to a flying start with four boundaries in the first two overs, including three in one over from Matthew Forde. Ryan Rickelton added a six off Hosein, followed by a 23-run over from Chase in which Hendricks hit two sixes and two fours to take South Africa past 50. Although Rickelton struck another six off Joseph, he was dismissed in the same over, followed by Hendricks chopping on a delivery from Shepherd in the sixth over. Despite the loss of wickets, South Africa reached 71 during the powerplay and remained well-placed at 104/3 after 10 overs.

However, a remarkable comeback from West Indies in the second half of the innings triggered a dramatic collapse. Gudakesh Motie and Shepherd bowled tight overs, and though Tristan Stubbs briefly threatened with a six, South Africa’s chase unravelled. Stubbs holed out to long-off, giving Hosein his first wicket, followed by Donovan Ferreira being stumped off Motie, and Rassie van der Dussen struggling for a scratchy 17 off 24 before falling to Hosein. Joseph and Shepherd cleaned up the lower order as South Africa lost their last seven wickets for just 20 runs, ultimately falling well short of the target.

Brief Scores: West Indies 179/6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 41, Rovman Powell 35; Lizaad Williams 3-36, Patrick Kruger 2-29) beat South Africa 149 in 19.4 overs (Reeza Hendricks 44, Tristan Stubbs 28; Romario Shepherd 3-15, Shamar Joseph 3-31) by 30 runs.