Pooran and Hope’s Magic Seals WI’s 1-0 Lead Against South Africa .

Nicholas Pooran’s dazzling unbeaten 65 from 26 balls guided West Indies to a seven-wicket victory South Africa in a Twenty20 International in Trinidad on Friday, giving the home team a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Batting first after being put in, a South African side missing several regulars posted 174-7 in their 20 overs. However, the target always seemed within reach as the top three West Indies batters dominated at the Brian Lara Stadium, achieving the chase with 13 balls to spare.

TOSS

West Indies chose to bowl first.

Teams Line Up

South Africa (Playing XI)

Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Aiden Markram (C), Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Donovan Ferreira, Patrick Kruger, Bjorn Fortuin, Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Kwena Maphaka (debut).

West Indies (Playing XI)

 

 

Shai Hope, Alick Athanaze, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell (C), Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.

South Africa

After a brief rain delay, South Africa, fielding a revamped lineup, faced an early setback when Matthew Forde got Ryan Rickelton caught behind in the second over. Aiden Markram attempted a counter-attack but was dismissed for a quick 14 by Forde. Shamar Joseph then struck twice in his initial overs, leaving South Africa struggling at 33/4 at the beginning of the seventh over. At the halfway stage, South Africa was barely progressing at five runs per over with half their team back in the pavilion.

However, a partnership between Stubbs and Kruger started to build momentum. Kruger initially took the lead, hitting a six and a four off Roston Chase, breaking a long drought of boundaries. In the 14th over, he took Romario Shepherd for 16 runs, bringing up a fifty-run partnership with Stubbs. Just as the final overs started, Kruger fell six runs short of a half-century, handing Forde his third wicket.

Stubbs, playing a supporting role until then, began to accelerate, hitting consecutive fours against the best West Indies bowler of that day, who ended with figures of 3-27. Stubbs reached his fifty in 33 balls and then hammered Joseph for 24 runs in a 19th over marred by three no-balls. Before Shepherd dismissed him, Stubbs added another two fours and a six, helping South Africa to a competitive total.

West Indies

West Indies aggressively chased the target, with openers Hope’s Century made it possible for West Indies to chase down 326.Hope and Athanaze putting on an 84-run stand at over 10 runs per over. Following a quiet first over, both batters turned up the heat, scoring 75/0 in the PowerPlay, highlighted by expensive overs from Nandre Burger and Markram. Baartman brought some relief to South Africa by dismissing Athanaze for 40.

Pooran continued the aggressive play, smashing his second ball for a six, signaling his intent. With Hope approaching his fifty, West Indies required only 76 from the remaining 10 overs after accumulating 100 runs in the initial 10. Pooran’s fury intensified in the 12th over where he hit Burger for four successive sixes.

Though Hope fell after reaching his fifty in 34 balls, Pooran’s onslaught remained unabated. Kruger, the next bowler in the firing line, conceded 16 runs in an over, reducing the target to just 11 off the final four overs, which West Indies comfortably achieved shortly after.

Brief Scores

South Africa: 174/7 in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 76, Patrick Kruger 44; Matthew Ford 3-27, Shamar Joseph 2-40)West Indies: 176/3 in 17.5 overs (Nicholas Pooran 65*, Shai Hope 51, Alick Athanaze 40; Ottneil Baartman 2-30)West Indies won by 7 wickets.