West Indies 179 for six (Hope 41, Powell 35, Williams 3-36, Kruger 2-29) beat South Africa 149 (Hendricks 44, Stubbs 28, Shepherd 3-15, Joseph 3-31) by 30 runs
West Indies received a 3rd successive T20I sequence in opposition to South Africa by defending 179 on the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the place they dismantled a chase that was effectively arrange. South Africa had been 129 for 3 within the 14th over however misplaced 7 for 20 in 36 balls and had been bowled out for 149 in 19.4 overs to fall quick by 30 runs.
South Africa’s center order will likely be a trigger for concern as just one batter after No. 3 acquired previous 20 in a match the place particular person run-scoring accolades had been scarce. There have been no half-centuries throughout the 2 groups however West Indies had been clearly the higher big-hitting aspect. They hit 13 sixes in comparison with South Africa’s six, which was one marker of the place the sport was received.
Hope was Kruger’s first T20I wicket and it was not lengthy earlier than he had his second. After a change of ends, however with the identical plan, Kruger struck with the primary ball within the twelfth over. He maintained a large line outdoors off and Roston Chase was enticed into making an attempt an enormous shot. He solely acquired sufficient to seek out Maphaka on the sting of the purpose boundary, who took a great low catch to depart West Indies 94 for 3. Kruger shouldn’t be South Africa’s first-choice allrounder, even on this squad, however has finished sufficient to maintain Wiaan Mulder on the bench and even perhaps edge out Ferreira. However West Indies scored 50 runs of their final 5 overs, with Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford including 47 off 28 balls for the fifth wicket to provide them the sting.
The final ball of Hosein’s opening over was not significantly quick, however Reeza Hendricks pulled it for 4 over midwicket for the primary boundary of South Africa’s reply. And it was as if a change had flipped. Hendricks went on to hit a large ball from Matthew Forde over level, a full supply by means of the covers after which appeared to do nothing greater than try a back-foot defensive block however timed it effectively sufficient to get previous mid-off for 4 extra. His coup de grâce got here in opposition to Chase, whom he hit for 22 runs in 5 balls, together with back-to-back sixes both aspect of the wicket, to provide South Africa fifty inside 4 overs, and 71 within the powerplay albeit that he fell on the penultimate ball. Hendricks under-edged Shepherd onto his stumps and was out for 44 however confirmed indicators that he was again to his finest. In 12 innings earlier than this one, Hendricks had solely gone previous 40 as soon as and although he would have been dissatisfied to not get a half-century, he arrange the chase effectively.
Hosein has South Africa on the ropes
Hosein’s first two overs – initially of the innings – value 17 runs and he was introduced again within the 14th. South Africa had been 125 for 3 after 13 with Tristan Stubbs and Rassie van der Dussen each in and scoring shortly. Hosein made an important breakthrough, foxing Stubbs. Stubbs tried to loft a gradual, flighted ball over long-off however didn’t get sufficient on it and was caught by substitute fielder Fabian Allen. Tempo-off additionally did Ferreira in, as Motie had him stumped within the subsequent over, but it surely was Hosein’s ultimate supply that put South Africa’s hopes to mattress. Van der Dussen tried to hit him over midwicket however solely made contact with the within half of the bat and was caught by Joseph. South Africa had been 138 for six after 16 overs and wanted 42 runs off 24 balls. Joseph and Shepherd took it out of South Africa’s attain and cleaned up the tail earlier than Matthew Forde completed off the match
.jpeg?ssl=1 "T20 World Cup 2026: ‘Abhishek Sharma can turn the match alone’")
