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Charles imperious as Windies completes series whitewash

rugby26 May 2024 21:59| © MWP
By:CS Chiwanza
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Johnson Charles put on an exhibition of boundary-hitting as he inspired the West Indies to a comprehensive eight-wicket win over South Africa in their T20 International clash at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, on Sunday. 

The home side completed their chase with 37 balls to spare.

The win completes a 3-0 series win for the home side. This is the first time the West Indies have whitewashed South Africa in a T20 series.

South Africa, who won the toss and elected to bat first, hobbled their way to 163 for seven in 20 overs.

 The West Indies chase lasted for 13.5 overs on their way to 165 for two.

Charles plundered five sixes and nine fours as he put on a masterclass on Powerplay batting.

He scored an imperious 69 off 26 deliveries.

The opener smashed South Africa's bowling attack to all areas in his outstanding knock.

With the 35-year-old running amok, the West Indies reached the 50-run mark in just 3.1 overs.

The knock was in stark contrast to South Africa's. The visitors required more than twice as many overs to reach the milestone.

When Charles brought up his half-century, only one run from the 20-ball half-ton was from non-boundary runs.

Charles's partner in their match-winning 92-run opening stand, Brandon King, took over the responsibility of punishing the South African bowling attack.

The West Indies captain smashed four sixes and two fours on his way to 44 off 28 balls.

Kyle Mayers (36*) and Alick Athanaze (6*) administered the last rites to South Africa's bowling effort.

They shared an unbeaten 35-run third-wicket partnership that saw the home side over the line.

VAN DER DUSSEN RESCUES SA INNINGS

Earlier in the match, Rassie van der Dussen performed a rescue job of the South African innings with a fighting half-century.

He smashed five sixes and a single four on his way to an eighth T20I half-century of 51 off 31 deliveries.

His half-ton was against the run of play. The visitors were in trouble when Van der Dussen arrived at the crease, they were three wickets down for 47 runs in the seventh over.

Eight deliveries after his arrival, South Africa lost their fourth and had a mere 50 runs on the board.

The visitors suffered an incredible top-order collapse, losing three wickets for seven runs in 2.3 overs.

South Africa needed a decent partnership to save them from a sub-120 total.

That partnership came in the form of the fifth-wicket stand between van der Dussen and Wiaan Mulder.

The duo waged a middle-order fightback with a 77-run fifth-wicket partnership.

The stand helped the visitors get back into the contest.

Unfortunately for Mulder, who has not had a great outing with the bat, he was unable to register a new career T20I score.

He matched his previous best of 36. Besides Mulder, no other South African batter crossed the 20-run mark.

THE REAL McCOY

Obed McCoy led the West Indies bowling attack on a day when the home side did not give the visitors any breathing room with the ball.

He took three wickets for 39 runs in four overs, the home side's bowling attack had the South Africans under the pump.

McCoy earlier received his call-up to the West Indies T20 World Cup squad and he celebrated the news with a sensational performance.

He was ably supported by Gudakesh Motie, who took two wickets for 21 runs in three overs and Shamar Joseph who also bagged a brace, two wickets for 26 runs in four overs.

WEST INDIES: Brandon King (capt), Johnson Charles, Kyle Mayers, Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher (wk), Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh Jr, 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 Mulder, Pat Kruger, Gerald Coetzee, Bjorn Fortuin, Nqaba Peter, Anrich Nortje.

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