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WI vs SA | 5th T20I: All-round South Africa clinch series after Windies' firepower fall short

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South Africa ended their tour of West Indies in a perfect manner after clinching a win by 25 runs in the fifth and final T20I to seal the series on Saturday in Grenada. Chasing 169, the hosts were restricted to 143/9 in the allotted 20 overs as the Proteas bowling attack once again dominated the Caribbean batting lineup during the course. 

West Indies didn’t really start off the proceedings well after losing opener Lendl Simmons early in the chase but Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis tried to steady the ship for the side and stitched a 45-run stand for the second wicket before Gayle departed for 11 off 9. 

The hosts then lost wickets at regular intervals and were left just delaying an eventual defeat at 140/8 in the penultimate over. 

Evin Lewis notched up a half-century to keep Windies in the game while Shimron Hetmyer supported well with the bat with 33 but their efforts could not match up to the needs of the men in maroon.

For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the bowlers and returned with a three-for while Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder chipped in with a couple of wickets each. Tabraiz Shamsi continued his dream run of form with the batt and squeezed Windies in his four-over spell giving away only 11 runs.

Earlier, the visitors put 168/4 in 20 overs, courtesy of a superb stand of 128 runs between Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram for the second wicket after skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat first. However, Proteas suffered an early setback in the form of skipper Bavuma himself on the third delivery of the match. Both Markram and de Kock provided solidity to Proteas and the former top-scored with 70 off 48 while Quinton de Kock struck a 42-ball 60. 

For West Indies, it was Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Bravo and Obed McCoy who were among the wickets. Edwards picked up two wickets while Bravo and McCoy got one each. 

West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard expressed his disappointment about the series loss. 

“The total seemed like a winning total for us. We had three opportunities in this series to chase 160 but we couldn't. But the disappointing thing for us is that we keep making the same mistakes over and over and over. We set up the game well for the guys in the shed. Well played to Quinton and South Africa. He was fantastic for them, he changed the momentum of the series. The young bowlers for us, McCoy, Sinclair and Bravo coming good were fantastic. The batting was disappointing,” he said after the match. 

South Africa captain Bavuma was ‘delighted’ by the ‘incredible’ performance from the boys. 

“Delighted. Incredible from the boys. We were under pressure and we need to commend our ability to bounce back. Come the World Cup, it should be an incredible one to watch. This series can only boost our confidence. We haven't won much away from home. Looking forward to the World Cup, this win gives us confidence and belief as well. I believe things are gelling well for us. It was a hard fought series from a skill point of view,” he said. 

South Africa clinched the five-match series 3-2. 

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