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King leads Windies to an emphatic win over Proteas

cricket24 May 2024 05:39| © MWP
By:CS Chiwanza
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Brandon King scored an imperious half-century to inspire the West Indies to an impressive 28-run win over South Africa in their T20 International match at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, on Thursday.

The West Indies, who were asked to bat first, scored 175 for eight.

In reply, South Africa hobbled their way to 147 in 19.5 overs.

This is the biggest margin with which the West Indies have defeated South Africa in this format.

They lead the three-match series 1-0.

King, who has been away from the West Indies side due to injury, made a triumphant return to international cricket.

The 29-year-old smashed six fours and six sixes on his way to 79 off 45 deliveries for his 10th half-century in T20Is

The West Indies captain dominated the first six overs, turning everyone at Sabina Park, including South Africa's fielders and his batting partners, into spectators as he registered a 26-ball half-century -- his fastest half-ton in the format.

It was the King show as he scored 29 of the 36 runs in his opening stand with Johnson Charles and then 50 of the 79 runs in his second-wicket partnership with Kyle Mayers.

King's approach allowed Mayers, who did not get a playing opportunity with his side, the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, time to settle down and collect his bearings.

At one point, Mayers had scored a pedestrian 10 runs from nine deliveries.

However, when he was dismissed 3.4 overs later, he had accelerated to a handy 34 off 25 balls.

The West Indies lost their way after both batters were dismissed.

They scored 40 runs in the next 6.3 overs. In that period, Roston Chase kept one end intact with a procession of wickets at the other.

He scored an unbeaten, fighting 32 off 30.

DEBUT TO REMEMBER

Ottniel Baartman made a splash on debut by becoming the fourth South African bowler to take three wickets on debut.

He bagged three wickets for 26 runs in his four overs. Those figures made him the visitors' most successful bowler.

Andile Phehlukwayo also took three wickets in his four overs but conceded more runs.

However, their effort was not enough and the difference between the two teams was the bowling.

The West Indies deployed their spinners, four of them, and they spun webs around the visitors.

The home side's tweakers were extracting twice as much turn on the ball as South Africa's spinners, Bjorn Fortuin and Reeza Hendricks' part-time off-breaks.

After delivering his single over, which went for only eight runs, Hendricks fought a lone battle with the bat for South Africa.

He showed his full range of shots as he batted his way to a career-best T20I score of 87 off 51 -- his 15th T20I half-century.

His sublime knock lifted South Africa to a decent total. It featured six fours and six sixes.

When he was not scoring runs, Hendricks watched wickets tumble at the other end.

The West Indies' bowling attack started well, bagging three wickets in the Powerplay with the first two coming in the first two overs.

They lost their left-handed pair of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in a space of eight deliveries.

Matthew Breetzke reset South Africa's compass with three consecutive boundaries.

MOTIE MAGIC

However, Breetzke's fightback was short-lived as he was trapped lbw by Shamar Joseph in the fifth over.

South Africa had a ray of hope when Hendricks was joined by Rassie van der Dussen in the middle.

The experienced campaigners stitched a 42-run fourth-wicket partnership as they consolidated.

Van der Dussen's dismissal was quickly followed by Wiaan Mulder's wicket.

The visitors' hope of coming within touching distance of the West Indies' total perished 3.1 overs after Mulder's dismissal.

After failing to make a connection with the ball several times, Andile Phehlukwayo flat-batted an Obed McCoy delivery straight to Matthew Forde at deep mid-wicket.

With all recognised batters back in the dressing room, Hendricks farmed the strike as much as he could. 

The 34-year-old shared a 39-run ninth-wicket partnership with Lungi Ngidi and the big pacer only contributed five runs to it.

Like South Africa, the West Indies had two bowlers with three wickets each, Matthew Forde and Gudakesh Motie.

Motie, who took three wickets for 25 runs in four overs, not only had the best figures for his team but in the match.

Forde took three for 27 in 2.5 overs.

WEST INDIES: Brandon King (capt), Johnson Charles, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Andre Fletcher, Fabian Allen, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Obed McCoy.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Breetzke, Rassie van der Dussen (capt), Wiaan Milder, Andile Phehlukhwayo, Gerald Coetzee, 9 Bjorn Fortuin, Ottneil Baartman, Lungi Ngidi.

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