South Africa crumbled from a winning position to a 30-run defeat against West Indies in the second T20I on Sunday, resulting in the Caribbean team securing an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. West Indies posted a total of 179 for six, and South Africa appeared to be heading for victory, reaching 129 for 3 with over six overs left. However, the Proteas subsequently lost their last seven wickets for just 20 runs in 35 balls, finishing all out for 149.
TOSS
South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Teams Line Up-
South Africa (Playing XI)
Ryan Rickelton (WK), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (C), Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Donovan Ferreira, Patrick Kruger, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman, Lizaad Williams (in for Nandre Burger).
West Indies (Unchanged Playing XI)
Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Rovman Powell (C), Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph.
WEST INDIES
Athanaze kickstarted the West Indies’ innings with a rapid start after South Africa chose to bowl. Hope contributed 13 runs at a run-a-ball pace during the powerplay. Athanaze hit two fours and two sixes but was dismissed in the sixth over by Lizaad Williams. Hope then accelerated the innings with two sixes off Aiden Markram in the seventh over, followed by another couple of sixes, one each for Hope and Pooran, off Kwena Maphaka. Hope hit a fourth six in Patrick Kruger’s over before being dismissed nine runs short of a half-century. At the midway point, West Indies were at 90/2.
South Africa managed to slow down the scoring with quick wickets of Chase and Pooran, fetched by Kruger and Williams in consecutive overs. However, an expensive 15th over from Fortuin, in which Rutherford hit two sixes and a four, handed the momentum back to West Indies. Although Baartman and Maphaka bowled a couple of economical overs in the death, limiting West Indies to just 8 runs overall in the 17th and 19th overs, the opposition still managed to post a significant total, just shy of 180.
SOUTH AFRICA
Hendricks spearheaded South Africa’s chase with four boundaries in the opening two overs, including three off Matthew Forde. Rickelton added a six off Hosein, and Hendricks followed up with a massive over, hitting two sixes and two fours off Chase in a 23-run fourth over, propelling South Africa past 50. Although Rickelton hit another six off Joseph, he was dismissed in the same over, and Hendricks soon followed, chopping Shepherd’s delivery onto the stumps in the sixth over. Nevertheless, South Africa had a strong start, scoring 71 in the powerplay. Markram maintained the tempo with a six and a four off Joseph but was soon dismissed by Shepherd. At the conclusion of the 10th over, South Africa were well-placed at 104/3.
However, a brilliant comeback by the West Indies bowlers saw South Africa lose momentum. Motie and Shepherd bowled efficiently before Stubbs hit a six off Motie, reducing the target to 55 off 42 balls. Yet, the regular fall of wickets thereafter prevented South Africa from nearing the target. Stubbs sliced a catch to long-off, giving Hosein his first wicket. Ferreira was stumped by Motie, and van der Dussen was dismissed by Hosein for a scratchy 17 off 24. The lower order was subsequently cleared up by Joseph and Shepherd, resulting in South Africa losing seven wickets for just 20 runs and conceding the series.
There was no way back for the Proteas as the West Indies bowlers routed their batting lineup, bundling them out for 149 and securing the series win with a 2-0 lead.
Brief Scores
West Indies: 179/6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 41, Rovman Powell 35; Lizaad Williams 3-36, Patrick Kruger 2-29) defeated South Africa: 149 in 19.4 overs (Reeza Hendricks 44, Tristan Stubbs 28; Romario Shepherd 3-15, Shamar Joseph 3-31) by 30 runs.