Windies seal T20 series with a game to spare

South Africa collapsed from a winning position to lose by 30 runs to the West Indies in the second T20 international on Sunday. The Caribbean side have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

West Indies made a strong first of it with the bat, amassing 179 for six at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad & Tobago.

Shai Hope recorded an exhilarating 41 off 22 balls. Captain Rovman Powell contributed 35 while Sherfane Rutherford added 29 which helped the team post a competitive total. West Indies hit 13 sixes.

The visiting South Africans seemed to be well on their way to victory, however, reaching 129-3 with more than six overs remaining.

Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph, though, delivered crucial bowling spells and played a huge role in stealing the victory from the Proteas, as they lost the last five wickets for just 14 runs.

In response to WI’s total, South Africa were all out for 149 in 19.4 overs.

The tourists’ chase was hampered by Shepherd (3-15) and Joseph (3-31), who dismantled their batting lineup.

Shepherd was named Player of the Match for his career second-best figures, only behind his performance against India last year.

Shepherd has now raced to 44 wickets in the format, in 42 matches. He averages 28.31 with a solitary four-wicket haul.

Despite a promising start from Reeza Hendricks (44) and Ryan Rickelton (20), SA couldn’t maintain their momentum, thanks to the Windies seamers.

Powell was pleased with the way his team had turned the game around after the strong start from the tourists.

“We put the pressure after the powerplay. Wickets would bring us back in the game. T20 cricket can change very fast,” he said.

West Indies won the first match by seven wickets and with 13 balls to spare. The hosts will try to complete the whitewash on Tuesday from 3:00 pm.

(MSN)