West Indies Clinch Rain-Interrupted Third T20I Against South Africa via DLS Method
West Indies Complete T20 Series Sweep with Rain-Interrupted Victory Over South Africa
TAROUBA:
In a rain-affected third T20 International, the West Indies secured a commanding eight-wicket win over South Africa on Tuesday, sealing a 3-0 series sweep. The match, held at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, saw the Caribbean side chase down a revised target under the Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) method to cap off a dominant series performance.
South Africa, batting first, set a target of 116 runs after scoring 108-4 in their allotted 13 overs before rain interrupted play. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the West Indies reached the target with ease, finishing their innings at 116-2 with 22 balls to spare. The victory was built on strong performances by openers Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran, who played crucial roles in the successful chase.
Shai Hope led the charge with an unbeaten 42 runs off just 24 balls, demonstrating his aggressive batting prowess. Nicholas Pooran provided a quickfire 35 runs from 13 deliveries, ensuring that the West Indies stayed ahead of the required run rate. The team’s total included a significant contribution from boundaries, with 82 runs coming from nine sixes and seven fours.
Romario Shepherd was named the man of the match for his impressive bowling performance. Shepherd delivered a disciplined spell, taking 2-14 in his two overs. His efforts were instrumental in stalling South Africa’s innings, contributing to their eventual modest total.
The victory was particularly sweet for the West Indies, given their earlier elimination from the T20 World Cup by the South Africans in June. Romario Shepherd expressed his satisfaction, stating, “To come and clean sweep the team which knocked us out of the World Cup was great.”
West Indies captain Roston Chase praised his team’s performance, saying, “We wanted to win the series 3-0. In a shortened game, we want guys to go and play their natural game. The guys came out and played brilliantly.”
On the other hand, South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram acknowledged the challenges faced by his team. Markram contributed 20 runs off 12 balls but reflected on the need for improvement. “Tough one today,” Markram said. “Probably got the tougher of the conditions. That being said, we can improve as a team. It’s going to take a little bit of time; there’s a bit we can take from it but it’s never great to lose.”
The series sweep by the West Indies not only highlights their dominance in the T20 format but also serves as a boost for the team following their World Cup exit. As they move forward, the West Indies will look to build on this success and carry the momentum into their future fixtures.