No sweat for WI in first T20I

TAROUBA, Trinidad (CMC):

West Indies, on the back of half-centuries from Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope, pulled off the highest successful run chase at the Brian Lara Stadium in defeating South Africa by seven wickets, in the opening T20 International (T20I) in Tarouba, Trinidad, yesterday.

South Africa could only manage to put up 174 for seven in their 20 overs, after which the West Indies easily chased down the runs scoring 176 for three in 17. 5 overs.

After asking the visitors to take the first strike following a rain delay, the host seamers ran through the Proteas top order to leave them in tatters at 42 for five in the seventh over.

Matthew Forde started the demolition job when he had opener Ryan Rickelton caught behind for four. The Barbadian then had captain Aiden Markram caught at mid-on for 14, before Shamar Joseph got in on the act by removing Reeza Hendricks for four.

Joseph then picked up his second wicket, when he had Rassie van der Dussen caught by Pooran for five before left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein had Donovan Ferreira caught for eight.

The South Africans would recover thanks to a sixth-wicket partnership of 71 runs off 50 balls between Tristan Stubbs and Patrick Kruger. Stubbs also shared in a seventh-wicket stand of 60 off 25 balls with Bjorn Fortuin.

Stubbs went on to top-score with 76, which came off 42 balls and included eight fours and three sixes. Kruger batted 32 balls for his 44, which included four fours and two sixes.

Forde equalled his career-best T20 figures in just his third match, finishing with three for 27. Joseph chipped in with two for 40.

In reply, the West Indies wasted little time in getting in on the act, as the new opening pair of Shai Hope and Alick Athanaze blazed their way to an 84-run opening stand.

The left-handed Athanaze had hit three maximums and two boundaries in his score of 40 before he was caught off seamer Ottniel Baartman. Pooran joined Hope and they added a further 54 runs for the second wicket. Pooran took a liking to Nandre Burger, as he lifted the left-arm seamer for four straight sixes in the 12th over.

In the meantime, Hope brought up his third T20I half-century which came off 34 balls. He fell soon after to Baartman for 51, at 138 for two in the 14th over.

Captain Rovman Powell fell for just seven but Pooran shifted gears and brought up his half-century off 20 balls. He finished with seven sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 65.

Captain Powell praised his team’s showing with both ball and bat.

“I think it’s always good to go 1-0 up. We bowled well in the powerplay and though we let them off a bit, we were good with the bat,” said Powell.