At the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba, the West Indies executed the most successful Twenty20 chase in history, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against South Africa. Pooran and Forde lead West Indies’ demolition of South Africa.
Just before a strong downpour caused the game to be delayed by an hour, West Indies elected to bowl first, and after eight overs, they had South Africa at 42 for 5, they were in command. Tristan Stubbs and Patrick Kruger put up a sixth-wicket stand of 71 runs from 50 balls, which helped South Africa rally. Stubbs and Bjorn Fortuin then shared a seventh-wicket stand of 60 runs off 25 balls, which provided the innings with much-needed momentum. In his third Twenty20 International, Matthew Forde equaled his best-ever career stats of 3 for 27.
The pursuit was always under the control of the West Indies. Before Hope and Nicholas Pooran’s 54-run stand, off 33 balls, broke South Africa’s back, Hope and Alick Athanaze put up 84 for the first wicket in 49 balls. Against a young South African assault, Pooran was especially harsh, scoring his quickest T20I fifty (from 20 balls) and finishing undefeated on 65 off 26.
South Africa’s depth was put to the test without the focal point of their assault, particularly after Lungi Ngidi was declared out of the series due to a calf issue before to kickoff. At eighteen years and 137 days, Kwena Maphaka became their youngest-ever debutant when he trapped West Indies skipper Rovman Powell at extra cover to record his maiden international wicket. By that point, Roston Chase’s four off the following ball put the finishing touches on a victory that required just three runs for West Indies. With 13 balls remaining, West Indies prevailed in the game.
West Indies’ early triple-strike
After an outstanding first over of three runs from Akeal Hosein, Powell’s choice to bowl first paid off almost immediately as Forde made the initial cut: Ryan Rickelton reached to cut a short, wide ball and toe-ended to Pooran. After countering with a powerful reverse sweep to remove Hosein, Aiden Markram struck Forde squarely to Gudakesh Motie at mid-on. Hosein was given a wretched run for the first wicket as Reeza Hendricks got a leading edge on Shamar Joseph’s opening delivery after two balls, which swirled to him at deep third. Only two of Hendricks’ previous 11 T20I innings have seen him reach 20 or more.
Despite their powerplay, South Africa faltered and finished at 33 for 3. As soon as the fielding limits were restored, Joseph scored his second goal and Rassie van der Dussen was strangled down leg.
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