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Shepherd, Pooran and Hope Made West Indies Series Win
Shepherd, Pooran and Hope Made West Indies Series Win
In a rain-affected game reduced to 13 overs per side, the hosts chased down the target of 116 in just 9.2 overs
West Indies won all the matches in the T20I series against South Africa, showing that they have been really strong in this format. Starting from March 2023, they have played against South Africa 10 times and won eight matches. This includes winning two series 3-0, both before and after the T20 World Cup. Their most recent win was in a shorter match in Trinidad.
The last match of the series started an hour later than planned due to rain, but no overs were lost once the game began. However, there was another weather delay in the fifth over of South Africa's innings, which took 70 minutes out of the game and reduced it to 13 overs per side.
South Africa scored a total of 108 runs for the loss of 4 wickets, but none of their players made big contributions, which was a worry for them during the series. The West Indies spinners, Akeal Hosein and stand-in captain Roston Chase bowled really well and kept South Africa quiet. Only Tristan Stubbs scored more than 30 runs, and the West Indies' target was changed to 116 runs.
The home team started off poorly when Bjorn Fortuin caught Alick Athanaze at mid-on in the first over. However, the other batters quickly took control of the game. Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran worked together to score 58 runs off 20 balls, setting West Indies up for a potential win. The match ended with an unbeaten 56-run partnership between Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, with 22 balls left to spare.
Shepherd's double-strike
Romario Shepherd took two wickets in his first over and he became the leading wicket-taker of the T20I series The tenth wicket for South Africa set back the visitors in their quest for quick runs. Aiden Markram successfully hit a back-of-a-length delivery and edged it for a catch on his first ball. The captain of South Africa's T20 team has only scored more than 20 runs once in his last seven T20I innings and twice in his 12 innings overall. After three balls, Shepherd bowled a slower ball that got Ryan Rickelton out, causing South Africa to go from 61 for 1 to 66 for 3, with 20 balls remaining in their innings.
Stubbs signs off on a high
Stubbs scored his first Test half-century in Trinidad recently and ended the T20I series as the top run-scorer. His mature performance shows promise for his future in South African cricket. When South Africa needed fast runs, he faced West Indies' experienced bowler Obed McCoy to make a mark, even as he was getting used to the conditions.
Stubbs had only faced four deliveries when he hit a six over backward square leg, followed by a four through cover, and another massive six over deep midwicket. He scored 16 runs off three balls and ended his innings with 40 runs off 15 balls, helping South Africa cross the 100-run mark and move towards a strong total.
Maphaka learns the hard way
Kwena Maphaka’s first IPL match was tough. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma hit him hard, and he gave away 66 runs in four overs, making it the most expensive debut. Playing his third international match in six days, Maphaka bowled in the third over of a shortened chase. He started with a wide ball outside off-stump, which he had to bowl again.
Bowling at 141 kph, Pooran took a single, bringing Hope on strike. Hope hit two short balls for sixes before being tricked by a slower ball. Maphaka struggled to finish the over, bowling a no-ball and a wide, and Pooran hit another six. Maphaka’s first over cost 22 runs.
Hetmyer’s Impressive T20I Return
In his first T20I of the year, Hetmyer quickly found his rhythm. After seven balls, he hit his first boundary off Lizaad Williams. Runs flowed easily after that. Hetmyer pulled a short ball from Maphaka for six, then hit Ottneil Baartman for three fours in an over. He partnered with Hope in a half-century stand, scoring 31 runs off 17 balls, helping West Indies finish strong.
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