Watch cricket video highlights between West Indies vs South Africa. South Africa tour of West Indies first twenty/20, played at Kingston.
Despite hitting four consecutive fifties in the run-up, Hendricks controversially lost out on a berth in South Africa’s starting XI for the 2022 T20 World Cup because he was unable to unseat skipper Temba Bavuma. However, there shouldn’t be any excuse for him to start the competition again this time. His innings of 87, his 10th half-century in T20 this year and 49th overall, was the most notable blow in a lackluster batting effort from South Africa. The only other player to score more than 20 was him. The way he timed the ball early on and then displayed his power striking towards the end—albeit too late to get South Africa over the finish line—were the highlights of his performance.
Forde may have questioned if he was supposed to chase leather again after de Kock struck his opening ball for four in his debut Twenty20 international match against England in December, after statistics of 0 for 54. De Kock hit Forde squarely in the stomach with an exceptionally well-timed stroke that required no footwork at all. The young West Indian, nevertheless, had the ideal counterargument. After failing to shift his feet once again, de Kock nicked behind on his subsequent ball, which went wide of off stump. Following his ODI retirement in November of last year, De Kock has only once reached fifty three times in thirty innings, all in Twenty20 cricket. His best score from his previous five trips to the bat was 12, however, following his dismissal for 4.
West Indies should have been aiming for a total above 200 after King’s start, but their middle order failed to support the early runs made by their stand-in leader. With the exception of Matthew Forde, who had the highest score outside the top four at five, nobody from Andre Fletcher down was able to reach double figures. While Baartman’s variations tricked Akeal Hosein and Forde, Fletcher and Fabian Allen were guilty of trying to drive Phehlukwayo beyond the line and were bowled and trapped leg before wicket, respectively. A wobbling seam delivery bowled Hosein, and Forde dragged a knuckleball square of the wicket. West Indies lost 6 for 40 in the last portion of their innings as a result of Motie’s run-out in the last over.
West Indies, co-hosts of the T20 World Cup, started their last preparations for the competition off well with a decisive 28-run victory against South Africa, their largest margin of victory when they batted first. Since this was the first international match at Sabina Park in over two years, West Indies would be happy with their domination at home. Neither team had their first-choice XI available, with some players resting or still playing in the IPL.
Setting the tone with a forceful 45-ball 79, homegrown Brandon King, captaining in lieu of Rovman Powell, established the tone. He also had a partnership of 79 runs at the second wicket with Kyle Mayers, who is not included in the T20 World Cup team. With scores of 64 for 1 in the Powerplay and 109 for 1 at the midway point, King was the backbone as the West Indies established a solid foundation. However, they lost 6 for 40 between the 14th and last over to end on 175 for 8.
With their bowling resurgence, South Africa will have been heartened, especially by Ottneil Baartman’s early performances. Baartman, making his T20I debut, removed Johnson Charles early on but appeared to have a niggle in his left knee after ten balls. He did, however, finish the over and go on to take 3 for 26. Allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo also ended with three wickets in his quota of four overs.
The much-discussed top order of South Africa was reduced to 35 for 3 in the fifth over, as neither Ryan Rickelton nor Quinton de Kock reached double digits, with the latter finding it difficult to locate the boundary. South Africa struck eight fours and one six in the first ten overs, whereas West Indies hit seven fours and eight sixes. Despite Reeza Hendricks’ career-best 87 off 51 balls, South Africa needed 99 runs off the final 10 overs, and his comeback was too little, too late. Due to Obed McCoy’s 2 for 15 and Gudakesh Motie’s 3 for 25, South Africa was unable to catch up and was finally dismissed for 147 in the last over.
King dominated South Africa up front in his maiden game as an international captain on his home field, setting the stage for the West Indies to return to Sabina Park victorious. He took advantage of the fact that he had most of the strike in the opening three overs. With three fours and two sixes, he scored 28 off of 16 balls faced.
Charles, in comparison, had not scored a run and had only seen two balls. In a show highlighted by creative movement at the crease that included baring his stumps, King went on to register his quickest T20I fifty off 26 balls and was getting close to his greatest score. Charles became Baartman’s maiden international wicket. King ultimately made place for Phehlukwayo when the latter fired down a full, wide ball that King had to reach for and van der Dussen, who was running to his right from the covers, toe-ended it. At the end of the eleventh over, King was out for 79, six less than his lifetime high in Twenty20 Internationals.
