South Africa vs West Indies: Nicholas Pooran’s explosive 65* off just 26 balls powered the West Indies to a commanding seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the first T20I of a three-match series in Trinidad. Pooran’s innings outshined a valiant effort from Tristan Stubbs, whose 42-ball 76 rescued South Africa from a precarious 42/5 to post a competitive total of 174/7. The West Indies openers laid a strong foundation with an 84-run stand, and Pooran’s aggressive knock ensured the hosts chased down the target with 13 balls to spare.
After being asked to bat first following a brief rain delay, South Africa’s innings got off to a rocky start. Matthew Forde struck early in his spell, dismissing Ryan Rickelton in the second over. Aiden Markram tried to counterattack with a six and a four off Akeal Hosein, but Forde returned to send the South African captain back to the pavilion for a 10-ball 14. Shamar Joseph then made an impact, claiming two wickets in his first two overs, leaving South Africa struggling at 33/4 in the seventh over. By the 11th over, South Africa had lost half their side and was scoring at a mere five runs per over.
However, Stubbs and Patrick Kruger began to rebuild the innings, with Kruger taking the lead initially. He broke a dry spell of 29 deliveries by hitting a six and a four off Roston Chase. When Romario Shepherd came into the attack in the 14th over, Kruger capitalized, scoring 22 runs off the over and reaching his half-century partnership with Stubbs. But just as the slog overs began, Kruger fell for 44, handing Forde his third wicket.
Stubbs, who had played a supporting role until then, took charge and attacked the West Indies’ best bowler of the day, hitting consecutive boundaries to end his spell at 3-27. Stubbs reached his fifty in 33 deliveries and took full advantage of a disastrous 19th over from Joseph, which included three no-balls and went for 24 runs. Before Shepherd dismissed Stubbs on the penultimate ball of the innings, Stubbs had already added two more boundaries and a huge six to push South Africa to a respectable total.
In pursuit of 175, the West Indies were relentless. Their openers, Alick Athanaze and Shai Hope, combined for a rapid 84-run partnership, scoring at over 10 runs per over. After a quiet first over, both batters went on the attack, with the hosts accumulating 75/0 in the PowerPlay. This included a 20-run over from Nandre Burger and a 21-run over from Markram. Ottneil Baartman finally broke the partnership, dismissing Athanaze for 40, ten runs shy of his fifty.
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Pooran picked up where Athanaze left off, smashing the second delivery he faced for a six. With Hope approaching his fifty, the West Indies needed just 76 more runs in the second half of their innings, having already scored 100 in the first 10 overs.
Pooran, however, delayed Hope’s fifty slightly as he took Burger apart in the 12th over, hitting four consecutive sixes to force the pacer out of the attack. Hope eventually reached his 34-ball fifty but fell shortly afterward. Nonetheless, Pooran continued his onslaught, taking Kruger for 6, 4, 6 in the 16th over, leaving the West Indies needing just 11 runs from the last four overs. The chase was completed swiftly, sealing a seven-wicket win for the hosts.
Brief Scores South Africa vs West Indies:
South Africa: 174/7 in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 76, Patrick Kruger 44; Matthew Ford 3-27, Shamar Joseph 2-40)
West Indies: 176/3 in 17.5 overs (Nicholas Pooran 65*, Shai Hope 51, Alick Athanaze 40; Ottneil Baartman 2-30)
*Result*: West Indies won by 7 wickets.