In a thrilling Twenty20 International match, West Indies defeated South Africa by seven wickets in Trinidad on Friday. With the victory, the host team established a 1-0 lead in the three-match series thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s unbeaten 65 off 26 deliveries.
Without a number of its regular players who were rested, South Africa was sent in to bat and managed to score 174-7 in their 20 overs.
However, it never seemed to be enough as the top three batters for the West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium hammered the ball to every area of the field and reached their target with 13 balls remaining.
With two fours and seven sixes, the explosive Pooran completed the innings in spectacular fashion.
However, Alick Athanaze (40 from 30 balls) and Shai Hope (51 from 36 balls) put up an 84-run opening stand that set the stage before South African seamer Ottneil Baartman (2-30) dismissed both of them.
Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who is the youngest player to represent his country in a T20 International at the age of eighteen years and 137 days, made his debut for South Africa.
When he took West Indies skipper Rovman Powell (7) at cover, he claimed his first wicket.
Before a 71-run sixth wicket stand between Tristan Stubbs (76 from 42 balls) and Patrick Kruger (44 from 32 balls) lifted the tourists to a reasonable score, the tourists were down 42-5 in their innings.
With a 3-27 average, seamer Matthew Forde was the best bowler for the home team, while Shamar Joseph returned numbers of 2-40.
On Sunday, the series’ second game will take place at the same location.
