The West Indies emerged victorious in a thrilling T20 international match against South Africa at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Stadium. The match saw an exceptional performance from Nicholas Pooran, who scored an unbeaten 65 from just 26 balls to lead his team to a seven-wicket win.
Initially, the West Indies decided to put South Africa in to bat, and their bowlers made an impressive start by restricting the visitors to 42-5 in the first eight overs. Matthew Forde played a key role in this early success by taking crucial wickets of Ryan Rickelton and skipper Aiden Markram. However, Tristan Stubbs and Patrick Kruger led a strong fightback which helped South Africa reach a total of 174-7 in their 20 overs.
Following a rain delay, the West Indies came out to bat and immediately went on the attack. The opening pair of Alick Athanaze and Shai Hope put on a strong opening stand of 84 runs. Even though Athinaze was dismissed in the eighth over, Pooran then took charge of the game and dominated the South African bowlers with a display of power hitting, including hitting four consecutive sixes off one over.
Despite the Proteas managing to dismiss Hope and skipper Rovman Powell, Pooran’s aggressive innings ensured victory for the West Indies with 13 balls to spare. The match also saw the debut of left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka, who at 18 years and 137 days, became the youngest player to represent South Africa in international cricket.
Looking ahead, the West Indies captain emphasized the importance of taking one game at a time and focusing on the immediate future rather than setting sights too far ahead on the next T20 World Cup in 2026. The team’s focus will now shift to the second game in the series, which will be held at the same venue on Sunday.
Overall, the West Indies delivered a strong performance against South Africa in the first T20 international match, showcasing their potential and depth as they look to build a consistent unit for future competitions.
