West Indies make clean sweep of T20I series vs South Africa

 

After losing the 2 match test series to South Africa 1-0 , the hosts West Indies showed their prowess in their strongest format the T20Is and whitewashed the Proteas 3-0 in the 3 match series played at Trinidad  .  In all the 3 games the margin of victory was substantial. Though the Proteas had their moments in at least 2 of the matches , they were not able to sustain the pressure which was needed to make the series more closely fought . 

In the 1st game the South Africans had a horrendous start batting first having slumped to 42/5 before fast maturing Tristan Stubbs almost singlehandedly resurrected the innings scoring a breathtaking  76 off just 42 deliveries and well supported by Kruger (44) as the Proteas recovered substantially to reach a much healthy 174/7 . Forde bowled well for the hosts taking 3 wickets . 

In reply the West Indies started superbly with  Athanaze (40) and Hope (51) smashing 84 in 7 overs and  then Nicholas Pooran tore apart the South African attack with an explosive 26 ball 65 and the hosts won with 13 balls to spare .

In the second T20I the hosts batted first and their openers again provided a good start with Athanaze (28) and Hope (41) in particular scoring rapidly again . Pooran (19) was subdued this time but skipper Rovman Powel (35) and Rutherford (29) did enough to take the West Indies to an imposing 179/6 in 20 overs . Lizard Williams took 3 wickets for the Proteas .

In reply the tourists were off to an electrifying start as Reeza Hendricks plundered an 18 ball 44 to help South Africa get 70 within the powerplay but once he , Rickleton (20) & Markram (19) got out , the tourists could not keep up to the scoring rate as Stubbs (28) could not provide his firepower this time and Van Dussen (17 in 24 balls ) struggled to score quickly . The lower order fell apart as Shamar Joseph and Shepherd took 3 wickets apiece  for a 30 run win for the hosts to capture the series . 

With the series sealed the West Indies steamrollered South Africa in the final game shortened by rain . South Africa batting first managed 104/3 in 13 overs with Stubbs playing an explosive knock of 40 in 15 balls supported by Rickelton (27) and Markram (20) as Shepherd picked 2 wickets . West Indies knocked off the Duckworth Lewis target of 116 within 10 overs with Pooran scoring an explosive 35 and Shai Hope playing a breathtaking unbeaten knock of 42 in 24 balls with full of sparkling shots and finally partnering Heytmer who smashed a 17 ball unbeaten 31 to close out the match and helping the West Indies to win the series 3-0 .  Shai Hope for his brilliant and consistent batting was the player of the series with an impactful  134  runs in 3 innings at 67 at average .