South Africa v West Indies
Wisden's review of South Africa v West Indies
Lawrence Booth
15-Apr-2017
At Nagpur, March 25, 2016 (floodlit). West Indies won by three wickets. Toss: West Indies.
West Indies were cantering to victory at 66 for two from 11 overs, after South Africa's batsmen had failed to adjust from their riotous stay in Mumbai. But, instead of working the ball around on a typically grudging Nagpur surface, West Indies went for broke. Imran Tahir found himself on a hattrick after Russell slogged to deep midwicket and Sammy was befuddled by his googly. And, when Samuels mistimed a slower ball from Morris to long-on, they were seven down, still needing ten off seven. But Brathwaite finally connected with a leg-side mow, carting the second ball of the last over from Rabada into the crowd at midwicket, and that was effectively that. South Africa had made a grim start: Amla was run out in the first over, du Plessis chipped Russell to mid-off, and Rossouw - in for the injured J-P. Duminy - went second ball to Gayle, bowling only his second over in Twenty20 internationals since December 2012. When de Villiers was bowled by Bravo's crafty slower one, and the left-handed Miller by a superb off-break from Gayle, it was 47 for five. De Kock and Wiese rallied in a stand of 50, and South Africa seemed back in it when Rabada curled a fulllength delivery on to Gayle's off stump in the first over of the West Indian reply. Fletcher was run out at the non-striker's end by Rossouw's direct hit from point, but Charles kept his team ahead of the rate. In the end, West Indies were grateful for their batting depth.
Man of the Match: M. N. Samuels.
West Indies were cantering to victory at 66 for two from 11 overs, after South Africa's batsmen had failed to adjust from their riotous stay in Mumbai. But, instead of working the ball around on a typically grudging Nagpur surface, West Indies went for broke. Imran Tahir found himself on a hattrick after Russell slogged to deep midwicket and Sammy was befuddled by his googly. And, when Samuels mistimed a slower ball from Morris to long-on, they were seven down, still needing ten off seven. But Brathwaite finally connected with a leg-side mow, carting the second ball of the last over from Rabada into the crowd at midwicket, and that was effectively that. South Africa had made a grim start: Amla was run out in the first over, du Plessis chipped Russell to mid-off, and Rossouw - in for the injured J-P. Duminy - went second ball to Gayle, bowling only his second over in Twenty20 internationals since December 2012. When de Villiers was bowled by Bravo's crafty slower one, and the left-handed Miller by a superb off-break from Gayle, it was 47 for five. De Kock and Wiese rallied in a stand of 50, and South Africa seemed back in it when Rabada curled a fulllength delivery on to Gayle's off stump in the first over of the West Indian reply. Fletcher was run out at the non-striker's end by Rossouw's direct hit from point, but Charles kept his team ahead of the rate. In the end, West Indies were grateful for their batting depth.
Man of the Match: M. N. Samuels.