This enthralling T20I, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy between West Indies and South Africa, ended with the former winning by 30 runs in this second T20I of the series, marking their third consecutive T20I series win over the Proteas. It was a display well-balanced in batting and bowling for the West Indies-too hot to handle for South Africa, despite a bright start.
West Indies Batting Masterclass
The West Indies, having opted to bat first, put up a total of 179 for 6. The innings of the West Indies was built around Shai Hope’s scores, who played an aggressive innings of 41 off 22 balls. His innings was inclusive of four towering sixes that showed just how effortlessly he could manufacture big shots in high-pressure situations. He was crucial in getting up a target that was attainable but required a disciplined chase.
It was also the exploits of Rovman Powell, who contributed 35, and Sherfane Rutherford, who provided a late charge with 26 off 15 balls. All together, they got West Indies to a total that would test the resolve of the South African bowlers.
While South Africa’s bowlers made moments of headway, with Patrick Kruger returning 2 for 29 and Lizaad Williams claiming 3 for 36, such efforts were ultimately trumped by the total that faced them as the West Indies made full use of their aggressive play and power-hitting abilities in sending up 13 sixes in their innings compared to South Africa’s six.
South Africa’s Game Begins on a Bright Note
South Africa began their chase of 180 with purpose. Reeza Hendricks, in particular, looked in excellent form, scoring 44 runs with some impressive shots. He was quite aggressive, and South Africa reached 50 runs within the first four overs, before he helped them get a blistering 22 runs off an over from Roston Chase. His innings gave a platform for the chase to be successfully carried through, but his dismissal on the penultimate ball of the 14th over marked a turning point in the match.
The middle-order collapse was fast and brutal. At 129 for 3 in the 14th over, South Africa did seem to be getting to the target prior to a spectacular collapse that saw them lose 7 wickets for just 20 runs. It was the West Indies bowlers who got control through a series of crucial breakthroughs that turned the game in their favor.
Crucial Breakthroughs and Match-Turning Moments
Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie played important roles in breaking down the South African batting order. Hosein came strongly, rather after an expensive start, to rid key players such as Tristan Stubbs and Rassie van der Dussen. His ability to use variations and pace-offs to good effect told. Motie made his mark too, with the stumping of Donovan Ferreira, tightening the noose further on South Africa.
Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph then took over, the former returning an excellent 3 for 15 while the latter returned with 3 for 31. Their combined efforts ensured that South Africa could not recover, being bowled out for 149 in 19.4 overs.
Of course, more important was the strategy that West Indies adopted to contain South Africa during the middle overs. They ensured a dried-up flow of runs through boundaries and created pressure on South African batsmen to make mistakes, which eventually proved to cost them the match.
South Africa’s Middle-Order Woes
In this game, the struggles of the middle order of South Africa were clear. Besides Hendricks, and some contributions at the start from Stubbs, nobody else made a contribution worth mentioning. Lack of acceleration or rebuilding from the lower middle order, especially when the wickets fell, had a huge say in defeat.
These are problems which the South African batting lineup must sort out as it looks forward to the game in the near future. The inability to capitalize on a fine start and the inability to garner big runs from the middle order are flaws the selectors need to urgently work on.
Conclusion
The win of the West Indies in the second T20I proved their all-round strength in T20 cricket. The way they could post a challenging total and then defend it by skillful bowling with disciplined fielding added to it was simply impressive. This win not only secured them the series but has also put them as deep and capable in the format of T20.
But the South Africans will have to reappraise their strategies and work on their middle-order performances in order to make a better run for it in future encounters. Much, therefore, needs to be worked on off the back of this series defeat, and many lessons are given to the team for working harder in subsequent fixtures.
