Tarouba, Trinidad – The West Indies took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against South Africa with a commanding 7-wicket victory at the Brian Lara Stadium. A blistering knock from Nicholas Pooran and a solid start from Shai Hope laid the foundation for the successful chase of South Africa’s 174/7.
After being put in to bat, South Africa posted a competitive total of 174/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant 76 off 42 balls by Tristan Stubbs and a steady 44 off 32 balls by Patrick Kruger. Despite a challenging start, South Africa’s middle and lower-order partnerships lifted their score, with Stubbs and Kruger adding 71 runs for the 6th wicket—South Africa’s highest partnership for that wicket in T20Is. Bjorn Fortuin and Stubbs further added 60 runs for the 7th wicket, setting a new record for South Africa’s highest 7th-wicket partnership in T20Is.
West Indies responded with confidence as Shai Hope anchored the innings with a composed 51 off 36 balls. The match was sealed by Nicholas Pooran, who smashed an unbeaten 65 off just 26 balls, guiding the West Indies to victory with 13 balls to spare. Pooran’s aggressive batting and smart match-ups helped West Indies chase down the target with ease.
Key Records in the Match:
- Kruger and Stubbs’s 71-run partnership is South Africa’s highest for the 6th wicket in T20Is, surpassing the 69-run stand between Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel.
- Stubbs and Fortuin’s 60-run partnership is South Africa’s highest for the 7th wicket in T20Is, breaking the previous record of 57 between Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel.
Brief Scores:
South Africa: 174/7 in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 76, Patrick Kruger 44; Matthew Forde 3/27, Shamar Joseph 2/40)
West Indies: 176/3 in 17.5 overs (Nicholas Pooran 65*, Shai Hope 51; Ottneil Baartman 2/30)
Result: West Indies won by 7 wickets (with 13 balls remaining).
Player of the Match: Nicholas Pooran (West Indies) – 65* (26) & 2 catches.
