Clinical West Indies sweep series 3-0

West Indies wrapped up the T20I series 3-0 with a comfortable 8-wicket win over South Africa in the third T20I at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad. With the match reduced to 13 overs due to rain, a quickfire 42* by Shai Hope alongside cameos by Nicholas Pooran (35) and Shimron Hetmyer (31*) enabled the West Indies to easily hunt the total of 116 with 22 balls to spare. Tristan Stubbs’ 40 off 15 deliveries was the shining light for South Africa in an otherwise tough night.

Akeal Hosein and Matthew Forde managed to sneak in some quiet overs in the beginning to keep a cap on the scoring rate. Forde attempted to cramp Ryan Rickelton for room in his second over, but the batter managed to hit through the line and scored a boundary and a six. The rain arrived a few balls later, which halted play for an hour, and resulted in the loss of seven overs per side.

Once action resumed after the delay, Reeza Hendricks was dismissed as he pulled a short delivery off the left-arm spinner to Fabian Allen at deep midwicket. Rickelton survived in the next over, as he was dropped at cover. The left-hander won the matchup against Gudakesh Motie and slog-swept him for a maximum. Aiden Markram took on Motie soon after, accounting for a four and a six in a 16-run over.

Romario Shepherd scalped both batters, which brought Stubbs to the crease. First, he took the attack to Obed McCoy with two sixes and a four. Forde was on the receiving end next, with two boundaries and a maximum. Stubbs miscued a slower ball of Forde which nestled in the hands of Allen, bringing an end to a sublime 40 off 15 balls. This took South Africa to 108 for 4 in 13 overs.

With a revised target of 116 in 13 overs, Bjorn Fortuin picked up Alick Athanaze, who chipped it to Aiden Markram at mid-on. Pooran wasted no time as he smashed his first ball for six of Fortuin. He continued against Lizaad Williams with two massive sixes over deep square. The carnage continued as Hope latched into Kwena Maphaka, which included three sixes – all on the onside.

Pooran continued at fifth gear against Ottneil Baartman, with a six and two boundaries, before he pulled the bowler to deep midwicket. West Indies had raced away to 60 for 2 in the four-over PowerPlay.

A few quiet overs by Patrick Kruger gave South Africa a slight breather. But this evaporated quickly as Shimron Hetmyer pulled Maphaka for a six. The shackles opened once again with the left-hander taking down Baartman for three boundaries. Hope completed the formalities with a massive six over cover.

Brief Scores: South Africa 108 for 4 in 13 overs (Tristan Stubbs 40, Ryan Rickelton 27; Romario Shepherd 2-14) lost to West Indies 116 for 2 in 9.2 overs (Shai Hope 42*, Nicholas Pooran 35; Bjorn Fortuin 1-8) – match reduced to 13 overs per side due to rain