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ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 finalists suffered a seven-wicket defeat against West Indies in the first T20I of the three-T20I series at Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad on August 23. Despite young Tristan Stubbs' 76-run knock, West Indies registered a comprehensive win with 13 balls to spare as Nicholas Pooran went berserk and smashed seven sixes in his 26-ball 65.
Stubbs, Kruger rescue Proteas after collapse
Earlier, Rovman Powell won the toss and opted to field first. South Africa suffered a collapse and were reduced to 42/6 in eight overs. Shamar Joseph and Matthew Forde troubled Proteas batters with the new ball. Stubbs and Patrick Kruger stabilised the innings with a 71-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Kruger missed his fifty as Forde returned to dismiss him. He scored 44 runs from 32 balls including four fours and a couple of sixes.
Stubbs accelerated in slog overs and reached his fifty from 33 balls. In the penultimate over, Joseph conceded 24 runs. In the final over, Stubbs hit two fours and a six before falling to Romario Shepherd. He hit eight fours and three sixes in his T20I career's best knock. He helped South Africa post 174/7.
Fireworks in powerplay overs
West Indies' run chase got off to an ideal start. Alick Athanaze and Shai Hope went berserk in the powerplay overs. From 34 for no loss after four overs, they were 75 for no loss after six overs. Ottniel Baartman provided the breakthrough as he dismissed Athanaze in the eighth over. The opener scored 40 runs from 30 balls including a couple of fours and three sixes.
Pooran goes on rampage
Hope slowed down in the middle overs. Pooran went after Nandre Burger in the 12th over and hit him for four consecutive sixes. In the next over, Hope reached his half-century from 34 balls. Baartman got rid of Hope as well trapping him in front of the stumps. His 36-ball 51 was laced with two fours and three sixes. Pooran continued to hit big and reached his half-century from just 20 balls. Meanwhile, Powell struggled to score and became debutant Kwena Maphaka's maiden wicket. On the next ball of the 18th over, Roston Chase finished the run chase with a boundary.
“I felt Athanaze and Hope played well. Just had to set the game up. I took on my match ups. The first 10 overs were tricky when SA were batting. But Stubbs and Kruger played well. We always knew we had a chance,” ‘Player of the match’ Pooran said in the post-match presentation.
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