South Africa vs West Indies 2nd T20: West Indies Clinch Series with Dramatic Collapse of South Africa
In the second T20 match between South Africa and West Indies, played on August 25, South Africa needed just 50 runs from the last 36 balls with six wickets in hand. The game seemed within their grasp, but an unexpected collapse saw South Africa lose seven wickets for just 20 runs, getting all out for 149 in 19.4 overs. With this victory, West Indies secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
West Indies Set a Competitive Total
Batting first, West Indies posted a solid total of 179/6 in their 20 overs at the Brian Lara Stadium. Opener Shai Hope led the charge with a quickfire 41 off 22 balls, including two fours and four sixes. He and fellow opener Alick Athanaze (28 off 21 balls) gave the team a strong start, putting up 41 runs for the first wicket in just 34 balls.
Though Hope couldn’t convert his start into a half-century, his innings set the foundation for West Indies. Contributions from Rovman Powell (35 off 22 balls) and Sherfane Rutherford (29 off 18 balls) helped West Indies reach a competitive score. Lizaad Williams was the standout bowler for South Africa, taking 3 wickets for 36 runs.
Sheppie grabs his first of the match!🙌🏾 #WIvSA #T20Fest pic.twitter.com/77wINEWqmZ
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 25, 2024
South Africa’s Chase Falters Despite Strong Start
Chasing 180, South Africa began aggressively, with Reeza Hendricks smashing 44 off just 18 balls. He, along with Ryan Rickelton (20 off 13 balls), added 63 runs for the first wicket in just 28 balls. However, once Rickelton fell in the fifth over, followed by Hendricks in the next over, the South African innings started to wobble.
Captain Aiden Markram tried to steady the ship with a quick 19 off 9 balls, but West Indies’ bowlers, particularly Shemar Joseph and Romario Shepherd, who both took 3 wickets each, kept applying pressure. South Africa’s middle and lower order collapsed, and the team was bowled out for 149, losing by 30 runs.
West Indies Secure Series Victory
With this win, West Indies took a 2-0 lead in the series, making the third and final T20 a mere formality. South Africa’s dramatic collapse after being in a strong position will be a point of concern as they head into the final match on August 28.
West Indies’ bowlers deserve credit for their resilience and ability to keep the pressure on, turning the game around when it seemed all but lost.