WI vs SA 2nd T20I: Joseph, Shepherd run through SA to seal the series in Trinidad
West Indies beat South Africa by 30 runs in the second T20I on Sunday, August 25 at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
After being put in to bat first, West Indies posted a good score of 179/6 in their allotted 20 overs with Shai Hope once again starring with the bat with his knock of 41 (22).
In reply, South Africa were bundled out for 149 in 19.4 overs as Romario Shepherd (3/15) and Shamar Joseph (3/31) decimated their batting lineup. As a result, the hosts registered another clinical win and took the series 2-0. Shephered was adjudged Player of the Match for registering second-best figures of his career.
Earlier in the day, being put in to bat first, West Indies openers Alick Athanaze (28 off 21) and Shai Hope got their team off to a good decent start adding 41 runs for the first wicket off 34 balls. Their stand was broken by Lizaad Williams who accounted for Athanaze in the sixth over. After losing his partner, Hope continued to keep the run flow going with his quick-fire knock of 41 off 22 balls smashing two fours and four sixes.
Powell and Rutherford guide WI to a good score
The opener missed his second successive half-century of the series as he fell prey to Patrick Kruger in the ninth over. Following Hope’s wickets South Africa made a good comeback by dismissing Roston Chase (7 off 9) and dangerous Nicholas Pooran (19 off 19) cheaply to leave West Indies on 108/4 after 12.5 overs.
Crucial knocks from captain Rovman Powell (35 off 22) and Sherfane Rutherford (29 off 18) along with a small cameo from Romario Shepherd (9* off 6) propelled the hosts to 179/6 in their 20 overs. Lizaad Williams was the pick of the bowlers for the Proteas with figures of 3/36.
Reeza Hendricks’ blistering start
In the second innings, South Africa’s chase got off to a rollicking start with Reeza Hendricks (44 off 18) launching an all-out assault on the West Indies bowlers. He added 63 runs for the first wicket off 28 balls along with Ryan Rickelton (20 off 13).
With the game running away, Shamar Joseph came to West Indies’ rescue and got rid of Rickelton in the fifth over. In the very next over, Shepherd shattered Hendricks’ stumps to instill the confidence back in the home crowd. Captain Aiden Markram (19 off 9) was also trapped in front of the stumps by the speedster after a quick cameo to leave the visitors on 86/3 after 7.2 overs.
After three quick blows, Tristan Stubbs (28 off 24) tried to stabilize by forging a 43-run stand off 39 balls with Rassie van der Dussen (17 off 24). However, he failed to replicate his heroics from the 1st T20I and fell prey to Akeal Hosein (2/25).
From there on, there was no comeback for the Proteas as West Indies bowlers ran through their batting to bundle them out for 149 and sealed the win for their side. Meanwhile, having taken a 2-0 lead in the series, West Indies will be aiming for a whitewash in the third and final T20I on Tuesday, August 27 at the same venue.