South Africa is demolished by the West Indies, led by Nicholas Pooran and Matthew Forde. In the powerplay, Athanaze and Hope hit 75 to put Stubbs’ resilient 76 in vain.
South Africa’s 174 for 3 (Stubbs 76, Kruger 44, Forde 3-27, Shamar 2-40) was defeated by the West Indies 176 for 3 (Pooran 65*, Hope 51, Athanaze 40, Baartman 2-30) by seven wickets.
INTRODUCTION:
Strong and left-handed, Nicholas Pooran is a wicketkeeper batter who can easily clear the boundary ropes. He is a Trinidadian who played for both his school and a college, showcasing his hard-hitting skills. Consequently, he was chosen at the age of sixteen to play for Trinidad Red Steel in 2013. He soon made history by becoming the youngest player to participate in the CPL, and he showed his promise by smashing 54 runs off of 24 balls in his very first game. He then went on to have equally outstanding performances in the Champions League. During the 2014 U-19 World Cup, he was one of the most talked-about players for the Windies under-19 team. gaining 303 runs from six games in the end.
Series: South Africa tour of West Indies,2024
Venue: Brain Lara Stadium,Tarouba,Tribidad.
Date & Time: Aug 23 , 03:00 PM LOCAL.
West Indies, Playing XI:( Shai Hope, Alick Athanaze, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Roston Chase, Rovman Powell (C), Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph)
South Africa, Playing XI: (Reeza Hendricks,Ryan Rickelton (WK),Aiden Markram(C), Rassie van der Dussen,Tristan Stubbs.Donovan Ferreira,Patrick Kruger,Bjorn Fortuin,Ottneil Baartman,Nandre Burger,Kwena Maphaka
Nicholas Pooran player of the match
In the first of three games to be played at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba, West Indies pulled off the most successful chase in T20 history to take the lead in the series against South Africa.
Just before a strong rainfall caused the game to be delayed by an hour, West Indies elected to bowl first, and after eight overs, they had South Africa at 42 for 5. They recovered when Patrick Kruger and Tristan Stubbs put on a sixth-wicket stand of 71 runs off 50 balls, and Stubbs and Bjorn Fortuin added a much-needed drive to the batting with a seventh-wicket stand of 60 off 25 balls. In his third Twenty20 International, Matthew Forde equaled his best-ever career stats of 3 for 27.
West Indies, in turn, constantly maintained the lead in the chase. Before Hope and Nicholas Pooran’s 54-run partnership, off 33 balls, broke the back of the target, Shai Hope and Alick Athanaze put on 84 in 49 balls for the first stand. Nicholas Pooran was particularly severe on an inexperienced South Africa’s attack and scored his fastest T20I fifty- off 20 balls – and finished unbeaten on 65 off 26.
Without the core of their attack, especially as Lungi Ngidi was ruled out of the series with a calf strain before the match began, South Africa’s depth was tested. Kwena Maphaka, who was 18 years and 137 days old when he made their debut, was their youngest player ever. He got his maiden international wicket when he caught West Indian captain Rovman Powell at extra cover.By then, West Indies needed just three runs to win and Roston Chase finished things off with a four off the next ball. West Indies won the match with 13 balls to spare.
Read More: Jay Shah will be ICC Chairman
Nicholas Pooran finishes the game with successive sixes
When Burger returned in the 12th over, Nicholas Pooran observed an opportunity to put a quick end to the circumstance, with 70 runs off 54 balls needed to win. Burger attempted a slower ball to Nicholas Pooran after Hope got off to a good start. He had plenty of time to hit the ball straight over long-off for a 77-meter six. Burger’s subsequent delivery was equally pace-off; it turned out to be a full toss, which Pooran helped in getting beyond midwicket and into the stands. He saw the following two balls coming because they were full and faster. To reduce the equation to 45 off 48 balls, he struck Burger for two more sixes that went straight down the ground. Despite losing a few wickets, West Indies easily met the goal.