Another strong outing with the ball from Romario Shepherd, coupled with a fine 40 by Shai Hope, gave West Indies victory over South Africa in the third T20 International on Tuesday. The win at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad & Tobago, gave the home team the series sweep over this same opposition for the second time this year.
Numerous rain interruptions delayed the start, then led to the match being reduced to 13 overs per side. The West Indies had won the series on Monday with a game in hand.
The Proteas made 108-4 in their 13 overs, but were never able to build any serious partnerships. Their only 40-run stand came between the 10th and 13th overs, yielding exactly 40 in 18 balls.
Hardest to get away were Akeal Hosein (1-11 from three overs) and Roston Chase (0-11 from two). But player-of-the-match Shepherd starred for the second game in a row, taking 2-14 from his two overs.
Hosein broke the opening partnership in the fifth over, taking Reeza Hendricks for nine. Although South Africa never accelerated from that point, neither did they lose wickets, opener Ryan Rickleton and captain Aiden Markram combining for 38.
Shepherd’s introduction in the 10th over precipitated the dismissal of Markram and Rickleton. Tristan Stubbs joined the fray, and he almost single handedly gave his team life, hitting 40 and dominating the partnerships with Jason Smith.
Chasing a revised target of 116 to win from 13 overs, the West Indies lost Alick Athanaze in the first over for one. Pooran came in to join Shai Hope, and the two put on 58 between them in just 20 balls. Hope struck 19 from seven, and Pooran 35 from 13, before the latter was removed. Pooran hit two boundaries and four sixes.
Hope then entered into a 56-run partnership with Shimron Hetmyer. Hope added a further 22 from 16 balls, to end unbeaten on 42 with a four and four sixes. Hetmyer, playing his first T20I of 2024, made 31 from 17 balls, inclusive of four fours and a six.
West Indies finished on 116-2. The whitewash gave the hosts their eighth win in the last 10 matches against South Africa in this format.
The West Indies were eliminated from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by the South Africans in June. Before the series they were asked if they were seeking revenge. But for some, the tournament loss was clearly still on their minds.
“To come and clean sweep the team which knocked us out of the World Cup was great,” Shepherd said.
West Indies skipper Roston Chase added: “We wanted to win the series 3-0. In a shortened game we want guys to go and play their natural game. The guys came out and played brilliantly.”
(TF)
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