West Indies beat South Africa by seven runs in the third and final T20 International at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday to clinch a 2-1 series victory.
Reeza Hendricks smashed 83 from 44 balls, but it wasn’t enough for South Africa, which fell seven runs short of its massive target as the West Indies claimed a 2- 1 series win following the third Twenty20 International at The rovers on Tuesday.
South Africa had chased down a record 259 for palm in the alternate game in Pretoria on Sunday. This time, it had to chase a target of 221, having tagged to coliseum first on a cold night in Johannesburg.
West Indies ’ aggregate of 220 for eight was powered by an unbeaten 44 from number nine Romario Shepherd, who smashed 26 off the final over of the innings from Kagiso Rabada in an emotional display of six hitting.
Nicholas Pooran also pitched in with 41 from 19 balls on another excellent fur gate on the Highveld.
South Africa was over with the run rate for utmost of their reply, boosted by Hendricks ’ excellent innings and 42 from 21 balls by Rilee Rossouw.
But it lost its way in the final five overs due to some good death bowling from the callers, not least attachment Alzarri Joseph who picked up 5- 40.
The home side demanded 26 from the final over, which it couldn’t score.
South Africa faces two must- palm One- Day International institutions against the Netherlands starting in Benoni on Friday as it flings for automatic qualification for the Cricket World Cup in India latterly this time.
New West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell said the players had responded to his call” to be intrepid, to be natural – but you have to be smart too. The guys were excellent in this series.”
Joseph, who missed the alternate match in Centurion when South Africa achieved a world record run chase of 259, struck pivotal blows when he took the lattices of T20 stars Quinton de Kock( 21) and David Miller( 11).
Joseph effectively wrapped up the match in the penultimate over when he dismissed top- arranger Reeza Hendricks for 83 and followed up with the lattices of Heinrich Klaasen and Wayne Parnell.
“We made a total and it was over to the bowlers to defend it,” said Joseph, who was named player of the match.
“I thrive on the occasion to make an impact.”
The last two overs of the West Indian innings were match- changing as Shepherd and Joseph scored 17 off Wayne Parnell and 26 in the final over sailed by Kagiso Rabada.
“We’d have liked to wrap up the last two lattices but bar the last two or three overs we were really good with the ball,” said South Africa captain Aiden Markram. Know More Latest Cricket News…
