Thanks to Nicholas Pooran's explosive 35-run contribution from just 13 deliveries, the West Indies cruised to an eight-wicket win in the third T20 on Tuesday, completing a 3-0 series whitewash. The game was heavily impacted by rain, which delayed the start by an hour and caused further interruptions in the fifth over, limiting both teams to 13 overs.
Nicholas Pooran’s valiant knock of 35 runs from just 13 balls helped the West Indies to beat South Africa by eight wickets in the rain-interrupted third T20 on Tuesday, completing a 3-0 series sweep. Rain caused an hour-long delay to start the match, and more disruptions in South Africa’s innings in the fifth over made the game 13 overs per side.
South Africa had reached 23/0 before the rain forced a break. Despite a sluggish opening, Tristan Stubbs turned the tide with a fiery 40 off 15 balls, helping the visitors post 108/4. Stubbs focused on the boundaries, hitting five fours and three sixes to contribute 38 runs in boundaries, ending the series with a total of 144 runs at a strike rate of 178.
Pooran mirrored Stubbs' aggression with a knock featuring four sixes and two fours. Although his innings ended in the fourth over with West Indies at 60/2, the chase was never in doubt, as they reached the target with 22 balls left. Shai Hope remained not out on 42 from 24 balls, while Shimron Hetmyer added 31 from 17, combining for an unbeaten 56-run stand.
Following the series victory, West Indies captain Roston Chase expressed his satisfaction, stating that achieving a 3-0 sweep was their goal and thanking his teammates for their dedication and strong performance on the field.
After winning the toss, the West Indies opted to bowl first. High humidity led to a tentative start for South Africa, though Ryan Rickelton managed the first boundary and six in the fourth over. The Proteas struggled to regain momentum after a 70-minute rain delay, and while Reeza Hendricks was soon dismissed, Tristan Stubbs took charge. He hammered several boundaries in the eleventh over and two more in the final over before being caught out with just two balls left in the innings.
With a staggering strike rate of 269, Pooran's quick-fire cameo set the stage for a comfortable West Indies win. Hope's four sixes and Hetmyer's combination of four fours and a six ensured a dominant finish. This victory serves as redemption for the West Indies, who were knocked out of the T20 World Cup by South Africa earlier this year.
South Africa's captain, Aiden Markram, pointed to the weather as a major hurdle, admitting that the frequent rain breaks and shifting conditions significantly hindered their performance. He noted that the team needs to work on adapting better to such unpredictable environments.