JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — In a dramatic conclusion to their T20 International series, the West Indies cricket team clinched a hard-fought victory against South Africa at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium on Saturday. The match, severely truncated by multiple weather interruptions, was ultimately decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, with the visitors winning by a narrow margin of six runs.
The contest was initially delayed by 75 minutes due to lightning threats, reducing the game to 16 overs per side. A subsequent stoppage further compressed the match into a frantic 10-over-per-side affair. Batting first under challenging stop-start conditions, the West Indies posted a competitive total of 114 for three, largely powered by a dynamic 86-run partnership between Captain Shai Hope (48) and Shimron Hetmyer (48 not out) from just 41 deliveries.
Facing an adjusted target of 125, South Africa’s chase fell just short at 118 for six. The victory was secured through exceptional bowling performances from two players making their only series appearances. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie delivered a match-winning performance of three for 17, earning him Player of the Match honors, while fast bowler Shamar Joseph applied crucial pressure in the final over, conceding only nine runs and taking the key wicket of big-hitting Jason Smith (26 off 10 balls).
Captain Shai Hope expressed satisfaction with his team’s progress, noting the particular challenges of batting first in interrupted play. ‘I’m very happy with the strides we’re making,’ Hope stated. ‘It’s good to see Shimron batting well, and the bowlers are hitting their straps.’
South African Captain Aiden Markram viewed the high-pressure scenario as valuable preparation, stating the match provided ‘a really good exercise for us’ with several players responding well under pressure. Despite the loss, Markram found ‘a lot of good signs’ after convincing victories in the first two matches, believing the team has ‘all bases covered.’
The series conclusion marks the final preparation for both teams as they depart for India on Sunday to compete in the upcoming T20 World Cup.