The West Indies stormed to an eight-wicket victory over South Africa in a rain-shortened third Twenty20 International on Tuesday, securing a clean sweep of the series. Rain played havoc with the match, delaying the start by an hour and returning during South Africa’s innings, forcing a reduction to 13 overs per side.
South Africa, despite a cautious start, were able to post a competitive score of 108-4 thanks to Tristan Stubbs’ explosive 40 runs off just 15 balls. Stubbs, who finished the series with an impressive 144 runs at a strike rate of 178, unleashed a barrage of sixes and fours, keeping South Africa in the contest.
However, Nicholas Pooran’s brutal cameo of 35 runs from 13 balls proved too much for South Africa to handle. Pooran, who smashed two fours and four sixes, almost matched Stubbs’ strike rate, finishing with a remarkable 269. His onslaught left West Indies needing just 60 runs with seven wickets in hand, effectively putting the result beyond doubt.
West Indies captain Roston Chase was delighted with his team’s performance, highlighting the importance of starting the series on a strong note. “Coming out on top is what we wanted. We wanted to win the series 3-0,” Chase said. He praised the team’s spirit and their determination to secure the victory.
The rain also impacted South Africa’s innings, leaving them on the back foot after a brief period of dominance by Stubbs. Reeza Hendricks was dismissed shortly after the resumption of play, and despite Stubbs’ valiant efforts, South Africa couldn’t recover fully from the rain delay.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram acknowledged the impact of the rain on his team’s performance, stating that they faced the more challenging conditions. He also highlighted areas where South Africa can improve to perform better in difficult circumstances.
The West Indies’ comprehensive victory adds to their recent dominance over South Africa in the T20 format. They previously won a three-match series against the Proteas prior to this year’s T20 World Cup, despite being eliminated from the tournament by the same team. This win underscores West Indies’ current strength in the shortest format of the game and their ability to adapt to challenging conditions.
