West Indies takes series-winning victory over South Africa

Magnificent bowling from Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph, led West Indies to a 30 runs victory against South Africa to capture two of the three-match T20 series at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

Sent in to bat, West Indies posted 179 for six in their 20 overs. While Shepherd and Joseph shared six wickets between them to set in motion a middle-order collapse, as South Africa was bowled out for 149 with two balls to spare from their 20 overs.

The victory gave West Indies a 2-0 series lead after winning the opening T20 match by seven wickets.

However, South Africa had hopes of levelling the series after they had gotten off to a spectacular start to the run chase by openers Ryan Rickelton (20) and Reeza Hendricks, who top-scored with 44 from 18 balls, taking them to 63 in less than five overs.

Hendricks was brutal on off-spinner Roston Chase, striking two sixes and two fours from his lone over that leaked 23 runs.

Joseph eventually had Rickelton caught by Matthew Forde while attempting a pull shot.

Shepherd then bagged the crucial wicket of Hendricks after he smashed six fours and two sixes leaving the score 71-2 in the sixth over.

Even though Shepherd trapped South African captain Aiden Markram lbw for 19, the visitors were still in control and had a 43-run partnership between Tristan Stubbs and Rassie van der Dussen which took them to 129-3 after 14 overs.

But shockingly, South Africa succumbed after losing their last seven wickets for just only 20 runs.

Stubbs was caught by substitute fielder Fabien Allen for 28 off spinner Akeal Hosein and five runs later Donovan Ferreira was stumped off the bowling of Gudakesh Motie as South Africa stumbled to 134 for five.

Hosein accounted for van der Dussen (17) and then Joseph shattered the stumps of Bjorn Fortuin and had the visitors had crumbling on 144 for seven in the 17th over.

Shepherd returned to grab his third wicket when Patrick Kruger was caught by Shai Hope, and Joseph and Forde wrapped up the last batters to secure the result.

Shepherd finished with 3-15 from his four overs, while Joseph had figures of 3-31 from his four overs and Hosein supported with 2-25.

Earlier, West Indies got a good start from openers Alick Athanaze and Hope, with a 41 runs partnership.

Athanaze was the first of three wickets for Lizaad Williams when he was out for 28. Hope made 41 before he was caught by van der Dussen off Patrick Kruger.

There was a sharp decline in the run rate, with Nicholas Pooran taking 19 balls for his 19 runs and Roston Chase with seven from nine balls.

However, captain Rovman Powell, on 35, and Sherfane Rutherford with 29 added 47 runs in five overs to help West Indies to their total.

Williams was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with 3-36 and Kruger took 2-29.