WI vs SA 3rd T20I Commentary - St George's (29 June 2021)

WIDE! Starts with a wide down the leg side. Allen misses his flick. Wide called.

Fullish delivery on leg, Allen looks to dig it out. The ball through his legs into the keeper's mitts.

FOUR! Full again on leg, Fabian Allen whips it towards deep backward square for a boundary. 

Full again on leg, Allen looks to flick but misses. The ball went through his legs again.

Fuller length on leg, Allen tucks it towards deep square leg. The fielder at the deep misfields and allows the batters to grab a second. Pressure on everyone right now.

Pitches it again on leg, Allen fails to get any bat on it. This is the third time the ball went through his legs.

SIX! It won't matter! Full toss on middle, Fabian Allen muscles it over deep square leg for a maximum. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 1 RUN.

Fires a yorker on leg, Pooran flicks it on the leg side for a run.

Low full toss on off, knocked to long off for just one.

Full toss again on middle, whipped towards mid-wicket The call is for two and Pooran gets it easily. Excellent running between the wickets.

Fuller on off, Pooran pushes it back to the bowler. 15 needed in 8 delivereis. 

OUT! LBW! Fuller length on middle, right into the blockhole, Nicholas Pooran went for the paddle scoop but didn't get any bat on it. The ball struck his pads and rolled towards short fine leg. Nortje appeals for an LBW and the umpire doesn't hesitate to raise his finger. Pooran takes a review. Ultra Edge confirms no bat. The Ball Tracker shows all three reds. The on-field decision will stay. Anrich Nortje gets an important wicket at an important time. This could prove to be a crucial wicket at the dying stages of the match.

Fuller length again, on off, Bravo pushes it back to the bowler. This means West Indies will need 15 off the last over. 

Full and outside off, Pooran swings his blade but misses.

SIX! CRUNCHED! Length delivery on off, Nicholas Pooran watches the ball closely, powers it over cow corner for a maximum. 20 needed in 16 deliveries. 

On middle, eased down to long on for a single.

Short and wide outside off, Allen swings but does not get any bat to it. 

Back of a length delivery on off, pulled towards deep square leg for one.

Fuller length delivery on off, Pooran pushes it towards mid off for a sharp single.

SIX! MUSCLE RUSSELL! Fuller length on off, Andre Russell lofts it over long off for a biggie. 

SIX! KABOOM! Anrich Nortje in pressure now! Back of a length delivery on off, Andre Russell makes room and muscles it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

WIDE! Way outside off, Russell leaves it alone. Wided.

DROPPED! OH, DEAR! How costly will this prove? Short ball on middle, Andre Russell went for another big shot but mistimes it. The ball goes off the top edge towards covers. Temba Bavuma goes for the catch and spills it. A single taken. Did he just drop the match there?

Low full toss on middle, Pooran works it off the inside edge towards short fine leg for a run.

WIDE! Outside the tramline again. Wide called.

Fuller length outside off, Russell guides it to backward point.

OUT! CAUGHT! This time it's taken! Fuller length again on off, Andre Russell muscles it towards long on. Aiden Markram takes a sharp diving catch to his right to dismiss Russell. Anrich Nortje has the last laugh. Went for two biggies but gets the big fish eventually. 

Tossed up outside off, worked down to long on for a single.

Floated delivery on off, Russell slaps it towards deep mid-wicket for just a single.

On off, tapped towards point.

Loopy delivery outside off, Pooran pokes it to point for a single.

Flighted delivery on leg, spinning in, Russell dances down the track and manages to get a bat on it. 

Fuller on middle, swept to deep mid-wicket for a single. Just 4 runs off the over. End of a brilliant spell by Tabraiz Shamsi. Conceded only 13 runs in his four-over quota and picked up 2 wickets. 

 SIX! Russell gets hold of this one. And when that happens the ball is usually out of the boundary. Nothing new here. Low full toss on middle. Russell picks it up and smacks it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. 

 WIDE! Rabada looks to go wide of Russell but goes a little too extra wide. Russell swings but to no avail. 

 Length ball on off, Russell punches it to cover for one.  Bavuma has a shy at the bowler's end but ends up hitting Bavuma. 

 Full on the leg side, Pooran looks to flick but misses. The ball kisses his pad on its way to the keeper.

 Slower ball bowled into the surface. Pooran looks to punch but misses. South Africa at this stage were 10 runs ahead and lost 2 wickets fewer. 

Fuller on off, Pooran checks his drive to cover for one. 

 WIDE! Low full toss wide outside off but once again on the wrong side of the tramline. 

 Slower ball bowled into the surface. It is to the left of cover. The fielder there dives and denies Russell the single. 48 needed off the final 5 overs. 

Short around off, Pooran cuts it through point for a single. 

 Darted on the pads. Russell looks to flick but misses and the ball goes to the on side of his pad. 

 Slower through the air on middle. Russell taps it to the on side and takes a quick single. 

 Short and spinning away from wide outside off. Pooran punches it to sweeper cover for one. 

 Slightly short and turning in. Russell looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads. 

 Floated on middle, Russell knocks it to long on and keeps the strike. Just 4 off the over. 

FOUR! Down the leg side, Pooran flicks it with soft hands back to the keeper. De Kock couldn't collect it and the ball races away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Low full toss on middle, Pooran clips it to mid-wicket for a single.

OUT! BOWLED! Kagiso Rabada gets the dangerous Kieron Pollard! Quicker delivery on middle and off, Kieron Pollard charges down the track. He is beaten by the pace as this one was a 143kph delivery, the ball goes through Pollard's bat and shatters the stumps. West Indies in deep trouble. Half the side back in the hut now. 

 Russell is off the mark! Full on off, Russell taps it to mid on and takes a single. 

 Slower bumper! It is on the leg side but Pooran has shuffled inside the stumps so it's not been wided. 

 Another off pace bouncer. This is around off, Pooran hops and hits it to deep mid-wicket for one. 7 off the over and a wicket. 62 needed off 42 balls now. 

Tossed up on middle, pushed back to the bowler.

BEATEN! Turn on offer, outside off, Pooran went for the drive but misses. 

Loopy and full outside off, played through covers for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! That's the wicket South Africa was looking for! It is their ace bowler who strikes! Tossed it up outside off, little bit of turn away from the batsman, Shimron Hetmyer tries to club that over covers but didn't time that well. The ball goes straight into the hands of Kagiso Rabada at backward point. Shimron Hetmyer departs. Tabraiz Shamsi is pumped. 

On middle, nudged towards mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter delivery on leg, Pooran tucks it away towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE! Down the leg side. De Kock does well to dive to his left and collect the ball.

OUT! CAUGHT! Lungi Ngidi gets the breakthrough! Good length delivery on off, Jason Holder looks to slash it on the leg side but miscues it. The ball went straight up in the air and Aiden Markram settles under it at long on. 

WIDE! Short ball down the leg side, Hetmyer pulls but misses. Wided.

Fuller on the pads, Hetmyer went for the flick. The ball goes off the pads towards short fine leg. The batters sneak a leg bye.

Outside off, Pooran looks to drive but misses.

WIDE! Fuller length down the leg side, Pooran fails to get any bat as he looks to flick. Wide called.

Short ball on middle, pulled towards deep square leg for a single. 

On off, pushed towards covers for a quick single.

Length delivery on off, Pooran works it towards covers for another single. 72 needed in 54 balls.

 SIX! BOOM! Do not bother looking, this was six the moment it left the bat. Short around off, Hetmyer gets on his back foot and smashes it over the cow corner region for a biggie. 

 Floated outside off, Hetmyer looks to go over covers but misses. De Kock cannot hold onto it as it hits his finger and goes behind. They take a bye. 

SIX! Holder joins the party! Tossed up in the slot on middle. Holder goes over mid-wicket. There is a man in the deep but he is a mere spectator. 

On the pads, Holder clips it to the on side for one.

Floated on off, Hetmyer milks it to cover and rotates. 

Flighted on off, Holder nudges it to cover and keeps the strike. Halfway of the innings done. West Indies are 89/2. Need another 79 off 60 balls. 

 FOUR! Nice shot! Tossed up ball on middle and leg, Holder gets outside the delivery and goes inside out over extra cover for a boundary.

 Tossed up on off, Holder follows the boundary with a single towards long on. 

 SIX! Magnificent from Hetmyer! Floated delivery wide outside off. Hetmyer gets on his knee and smokes it over extra cover for a biggie. 11 off the over already, pressure on Linde now. 

 Smart cricket! Follows the biggie with a single. On the pads, Hetmyer clips it behind square on the leg side for one.

Floated on middle, Holder plays it to long on for one.

 Short on middle, Hetmyer tucks it to mid-wicket. He calls for two but they need to settle for one. 

 Was there a little nick on it? Shamsi starts with one around the leg side. Holder looks to flick but misses. The ball clips something on its way to the keeper. De Kock fails to hold onto it. Looking at de Kock and Shamsi's reaction, it looks like there was a feather on it.  

Shorter on off, Holder punches it to cover for one.

 Tossed up on middle, Lewis keeps it out. 

OUT! CAUGHT! A fortuitous wicket for Shamsi but he will take it. Lewis will be kicking himself as this was a nothing delivery. A loopy ball on the leg side, Lewis looks to slog it over deep mid-wicket. He does not time it well and ends up picking out Rassie van der Dussen in the deep to perfection. He makes no mistake and Shamsi strikes in his very first over. 

 Googly on off. Hetmyer plays it with the spin towards deep mid-wicket to get off the mark with a single. 

 On the pads, Holder looks to flick but misses. The ball hits his pad, then de Kock's glove and lobs behind. They take a leg bye. Very good start from Shamsi. Just 2 runs and a leg bye along with the wicket of Lewis. 

 FOUR! Poor ball! Half tracker on the pads. Lewis says thank you very much and swivels it through backward square leg for a boundary. 

 On the pads, Lewis turns it to the on side for one. 

 Good effort from Hendricks! Short around off, Simmons cuts it and gets it past the man at point. Hendricks in the deep runs to his left and saves it before the ropes with a slide. 

 Flatter on off, Simmons plays it to point. 

 OUT! CAUGHT! Very sharp catch from de Kock and Linde draws the first blood. Simmons departs after a solid start and this is exactly what South Africa needed. Turn and bounce for Linde. He always extracts some bounce and it has worked in his favor. Shortish and pitching on middle and off. It pitches and turns away. Simmons looks to slap it through covers but gets a feather on it. De Kock behind the stumps takes a sharp catch. 

 Floated on middle, Holder knocks it to long on and gets off the mark. He shall also keep the strike. 

 Full around off, Lewis looks to hit it straight but gets an inside edge. The ball goes away from th stumps and through backward square leg for one. 

Fullish ball outside off, Simmons swings but to no avail.

 Good ball! Right in the blockhole. Simmons does well to jam it out. 

 Back of a length delivery outside off. Simmons throws his bat at it but to no avail.

 Full and wide outside off. Simmons looks to hit it through covers but gets an inside edge which sees the ball go to the keeper all along the ground. 

 Excellent over. Just a solitary run of the final over of the Powerplay. The last ball is low full toss on middle. Simmons pushes it back to the bowler. Powerplay done, West Indies are 48/0. South Africa at this stage were 51/2. 

Low full toss on middle, punched towards mid off.

Short ball on middle, Lewis pulls it towards square leg for a single.

 Fires a yorker on off, Simmons squeezes it out to backward point. South African players think it's a catch as Simmons has hit it directly. The umpires refer it to the third umpire. The soft signal is not out. The third umpire too confirms it hit the ground and got carried on one bounce.

SIX! CLOBBERED! Short of a length delivery on middle, Lendl Simmons hammers it over the bowler's head for a maximum. 

Low full toss on leg, Simmons clears his front leg and tries to go down the leg side. He gets a leading edge and the ball goes towards long on. The batters take a couple of runs The throw comes to de Kock who fails to collect it cleanly. The batters snatch another run of the overthrows.

Fuller length on the pads, flicked to mid-wicket for a single.

Length delivery on off, worked towards point for a single.

Good length ball outside off, Lewis looks to go big as he swings his blade on the off side. He gets a thick outside edge and went over backward point. Shamsi and Hendricks chase the ball and keeps it to two.

FOUR! Smashed! Short ball on middle, Evin Lewis pulls it fine towards fine leg for a boundary.

Fuller length on off, Lewis hits it hard towards long off for a single.

Short of a length on middle, Simmons hops and plays it to point.

Low full toss on middle, Simmons hits it towards mid-wicket.

  Nortje starts with a full ball on middle. Lewis plays it to mid-wicket for one. 

FOUR! What a shot! Fuller length on off, Lendl Simmons leans into the shot, drives it through covers for a glorious boundary.

Length delivery outside off, Simmons pushes it through covers off the front foot. He gets a couple.

Back of a length delivery on off, Simmons taps it to point for one.

Back of a hand delivery outside off, Lewis leaves it alone.

Dipping full toss on middle, Lewis plays it towards cover-point. He is not happy as he thinks it was a no ball.

Floated delivery on leg, worked towards mid-wicket.

WIDE! Down the leg side, Lewis misses his flick. Wided.

FIVE WIDES! Poor start from Aiden Markram! Bowls it down the leg side. Lewis misses his sweep shot. Quinton de Kock fails to collect the ball and races away to the fine leg fence.

Floated it up on off, nudged on the leg side for a single.

Tossed up delivery outside off, Simmons drives it through covers for a couple.

BEATEN! Tossed up outside off, Simmons looks to defend but misses.

Outside off, cut to point.

Floated delivery outside off, Simmons again looks to defend but gets beaten. 

 Starts with a full ball on off, Lewis plays it towards covers.

Tossed up on leg, Lewis works it towards square leg for one.

Full again on leg, Simmons whips it through square leg for a single.

Loopy ball on off, Evin Lewis cuts it very late past point. He gets a couple of runs.

SIX! UP AND OVER! Flatter delivery on off, Evin Lewis heaves it over long off for a maximum. Playing the shot to perfection. 

Flatter on the pads, nudged to deep square leg for a single.