News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Sun. August 25, 2024: Led by brilliant bowling performances from Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph, West Indies pulled off a stunning 30-run win against South Africa, securing the three-match T20 series with a game to spare.
After being sent into bat, West Indies posted a competitive total of 179 for six in their 20 overs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Sunday.
Man-of-the-Match Shepherd and Joseph then led a middle-order collapse, taking six wickets between them, as South Africa were bowled out for 149 with just two balls left in the match.
The win gave the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, following their seven-wicket win in the opening T20 on Friday.
Regardless of the final score, South Africa looked poised to level the series after a strong start to their chase. Openers Ryan Rickelton (20) and Reeza Hendricks, who top-scored with 44 off just 18 balls, took South Africa to 63 in less than five overs. Hendricks was particularly dominant, hammering Roston Chase for two sixes and two fours in an over that yielded 23 runs.
However, Joseph made the breakthrough as Rikelton was caught deep behind by Matthew Forde, attempting a pull-off. Shepherd then claimed the crucial wicket of Hendricks, who had hit six fours and two sixes, as the batsman dragged a wide ball onto his stumps, leaving South Africa at 71-2 in the sixth over.
Even after Shepherd trapped South African captain Aiden Markram lbw for 19, the visitors appeared in control with Tristan Stubbs and Rassie van der Dussen adding 43 runs, taking their total to 129-3 after 14 overs.
But in a dramatic collapse, South Africa lost their last seven wickets for just 20 runs. Stubbs was caught at long-on by substitute Fabian Allen for Akeal Hosein for 28 runs, and five runs later, Donovan Ferreira was stumped by the bowling of Gudakesh Motie, reducing South Africa to 134 for five.
Hosein also took the wicket of van der Dussen (17), and when Bjorn Fortuin was bowled by Joseph, the visitors slumped to 144 for seven in the 17th over. Shepherd came back to take his third wicket, with Patrick Kruger caught on the cover boundary by Shai Hope, and Joseph and Forde finished off the tail to seal the win.
Shepherd finished with outstanding figures of 3-15 from his four overs, while Joseph achieved his best T20 figures of 3-31 from his four overs. Hosein contributed 2-25.
Earlier, after losing the toss and being asked to bat on a flat and dry pitch, West Indies got off to a steady start with openers Alick Athanaze and Hope putting on a combined 41 runs. Athanaze became the first of three wickets for South African bowler Lizaad Williams when he was caught at midwicket for 28, attempting a pull shot.
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