Rovman Powell lays in the long stem. Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP.
Although wet conditions limited the first T20 matches between South Africa and the West Indies to 11 overs per team, it later also rained sixes at SuperSport Park.
Rovman Powell’s blistering innings of 43 unbeaten runs from just 18 deliveries eventually saw the Windies surpass the Proteas’ target of 132 runs by three wickets standing.
The individual talent of the visitors’ eleven means that they are very dangerous in the shortest format of the game and almost every Protea bowler was greeted with a six.
Bjorn Fortuin in particular had a hard time and he conceded 42 runs in his two overs.
Anrich Nortjé. Photo: Riaan de Bruyn/RDB Photography.
Thank goodness for Anrich Nortjé and Sisanda Magala’s heroics towards the end of the Windies innings, after which the game ended in a thrilling finish.
As usual, Nortjé had hopelessly too much speed and aggression for his opponents, while Magala took two important wickets from consecutive deliveries.
But Powell’s innings was the difference between winning and losing and the Windies captain smashed five huge sixes.
A captain’s performance!
Rovman Powell (43* off 18) smashes the Proteas attack as the West Indies chase down their target of 132 with three balls to spare.
They take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.#SAvWI scorecard ????
— SuperSport ???? (@SuperSportTV) March 25, 2023
Earlier, Quinton de Kock was out with the first ball of the match when he was caught by Sheldon Cottrell off Akeal Hosein’s bowling.
It is the first time in almost six years – when Jon-Jon Smuts lost his wicket against England at the time – that a South African batsman has been taken out with the first delivery of a T20 match.
Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen all lost their wickets while trying to score runs quickly.
David Miller. Photo: Riaan de Bruyn/RDB Photography.
However, David Miller just did a David Miller and after analyzing the conditions carefully, he set off with speed to score 48 quick runs.
He had a good ally in Magala and the Proteas scored 60 runs from the last three overs.
But in the end it wasn’t enough.
The next game in the series will also be decided tomorrow at SuperSportpark. The first delivery is sent at 14:00.
South Africa 131/8 in 11 overs: David Miller 48, Reeza Hendricks 21 en Odean Smith 2/27.
West Indies 132/7 in 10.3 overs: Rovman Powell 43*, Johnson Charles 28 an Sisanda Magala 3/21.
A late onslaught from David Miller (48 off 22) and Sisanda Magala (18* off 5) propels the Proteas to a competitive total of 131-8 off 11 overs.
West Indies require 132 to win the match.
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— SuperSport ???? (@SuperSportTV) March 25, 2023
