WI win by seven runs! Another slot ball at the stumps but it does not matter one bit. Markram swings it away to the deep mid wicket fence but it is the West Indians who are celebrating. They have won this three-match series 2-1 and they have been full value for it!
South Africa vs West Indies, 3rd T20I at Johannesburg, SA v WI, Mar 28 2023 - Match Result
10:14pm Right. That will be that from us for tonight. Hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Venkat Raghav and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo! Goodbye, goodnight and take care!
Rovman Powell, West Indies captain: After the last game, the guys were disappointed. We took all the positives from that game and tried to implement it today. The way Shepherd and Alzarri batted at the end was brilliant and then for Alzarri to pick up five wickets was special. As a new international captain, it is my responsibility to push them to a level I want them to go. I want my players to be aggressive and to play their natural game. But it is also important to understand when not to be aggressive. We knew that if we got 200-220, we had a chance. To get 200, you have to get a very good start. King, Mayers and Charles have been doing that for us this series. Very happy for him (Alzarri). South Africa is a nice place to bowl and we knew he would like bowling here. Lots of credit must be given to him. The natural thing was to go back to Cottrell but within our team, we know who can nail four out of six yorkers. It was a toss-up between myself, Cottrell and Reifer and in the end, we went with Reifer because he is also a left-handed bowler.
Johnson Charles, Player of the Series: (On the award) Definitely very happy. To come back after six years and get Player of the Series is very good. Enjoying the fact that we won a T20 series in South Africa after eight years - it is a very nice feeling. You always keep playing and you always keep learning. You never know when you get called up. I have been playing all around the world and have just keeping myself in good shape. For me personally, I have just managed to work on my basics, keeping my shoulders close as long as possible and not losing my shape. At the end of the way, it has worked for me. I am definitely going to take that (Centurion wicket) back to the Caribbean (smiles).
Alzarri Joseph, Player of the Match: We made a good total so it was up to the bowlers to defend it. It is always good when the captain gives you that confidence. I enjoy a challenge. The back room staff, the captain give me responsibility to lead the pack and lead by example. That is something I enjoy doing.
Aiden Markram, South Africa captain: It was a good game in the end for the neutral watcher. We let ourselves down with the bat a little. We fell a few runs short at the end of it. Have to give the bowlers credit for the way they responded after Sunday. (On the score) There was a stage where we would have wanted to wrap it up for 160-170. Barring the last three overs, we were really good. Anything under 200 was the goal. 220 was perhaps par. To lose is not great but we are on the right path and good to see the boys respond in each game. In the short form of the game, when a partnership gets going, it is hard to stop them, hence, it is important to keep picking wickets. We always try to set fields that bring us wickets. (On his first series as captain) Thoroughly enjoyable. Challenging at times but the team is on a journey and it is a good sign to see the boys responding game after game.
Rahul: "WI you beauty !! As a diehard fan, you've given a lot of heartbreaks but also wonderful moments of glory like this. All the love from India !!"
9:50pm Wow, what a way to end a truly memorable series. Each innings in the series was played out at more than 10 runs per over but in the end, the West Indies' sustained hitting was the difference. South Africa were in this chase for large swathes tonight, especially when Hendricks was batting like a dream. Support, though, was not very forthcoming, apart from Rossouw's knock. Markram struggled and Miller did not quite get into his groove. de Kock, too, scratched around at the start of his innings and South Africa, despite the power-packed batting unit at their disposal, never got ahead of the run-chase.
Shepherd's role earlier in the evening must not be forgotten either. He ransacked 26 runs off Rabada's final over and that perhaps propelled the visitors to an above-par total. That came especially handy as dew became a factor and bowling became tougher in the second innings. Despite the dew, Joseph picked up a sensational five-wicket haul, and that West Indian trait of defying the odds and winning the crucial moments is what has catapulted them to this magnificent series victory.
in the slot on middle and off stump. Markram clears his front leg and bludgeons it back past the bowler for four!
Reifer has been brilliant under pressure in this last over so far. Two more legitimate deliveries, and WI are home
excellent yorker on leg stump. Markram can't get under it again and can only clip it towards deep mid wicket for a couple of runs
Vaibhav: "Getting Carlos Brathwaite remember the name vibes.."
18 off 3 now. Markram needs three sixes, else, WI will win this series
full toss on middle and off stump. Markram looks to hit it too hard and ends up dragging it towards deep mid wicket for another brace
20 needed off 4 now. Markram needs to clear the fence a couple of times, at least
shot! Low full toss outside off stump. Markram gives it the lot and absolutely razes it past extra cover for four
24 needed off 5 now
in the slot on middle and leg stump. Markram sits back in his crease and muscles it towards deep mid wicket for a couple of runs
Only four fielders outside the circle because WI did not finish their overs in time. Reifer to bowl the final over
back of a length delivery outside off stump. Fortuin has a hack at it and gets a top-edge that swirls over Mayers' head at short fine leg. Amid that drama, it looks like South Africa decided against taking any runs
slower delivery bowled way outside off stump. Fortuin leaves it alone as the umpire calls it a wide
Fortuin joins his skipper
off stump goes for a toss! Joseph is over the moon, and why should he not be! Five for Joseph! Full, fast, you-miss-I-hit stuff from Joseph! Parnell has a wild slog across the line and sees the zing bails and off stump flying all around him! What a spell this has been from Joseph, and what an impact he has had tonight!
back of a length delivery on leg stump. Parnell is cramped for room and tugs it into the leg side for a couple of runs
Parnell in at 7. Does he have an ace (or a couple of sixes) up his sleeve?
sliced, and taken by Cottrell! Full delivery hung outside off stump and it is just wide enough to make Klaasen fetch it. He swings, because he has no other option and slices it terribly. Cottrell runs back from short third man, settles himself and completes a smart catch!
oh, hello! Oh, hello! In the slot outside off stump. Klaasen nonchalantly walks across his stumps and clubs it over the deep mid wicket fence!
Klaasen is the new batter in, and he has a fair bit to do. 35 needed off 11 now
holes out to long on! Is that the game? Low full toss outside off stump. Hendricks looks to go downtown but does not swing through the line enough. He ends up shovelling it straight down long on's throat!
Right. This game is tight. 35 off 12 balls, and in most cases, you would back the bowling side. But today, it feels we might have something special on the cards. Let's see what we have in store. Joseph to bowl the penultimate over
and he does, just about! In the slot on middle and off stump. Markram swings it through the line and launches it towards long off. Mayers should have gobbled up that chance but ends up conceding the boundary instead!
39 off 13. Markram needs to find the fence with this delivery
length delivery outside off stump. Hendricks punches it down the ground for just a single
big shot! Slower delivery dug into the track outside off stump. Hendricks waits an eternity for it before smearing it over deep square leg for a maximum!
slower delivery on a length on middle and leg stump. Markram clears his front leg and drags it towards deep mid wicket for a single
Zubair Islam : "That last over of WI innings may be the difference between the two teams "
back of a length delivery on off stump. Hendricks continues swinging but is again early into the stroke as the ball trickles off the thigh pad into the on side
off-pace delivery on a back of a length outside off stump. Hendricks has a huge hack across the line and only connects with fresh air
48 off 18 needed. Shepherd to bowl out
low full toss outside off stump. Hendricks tugs it towards deep mid wicket for just another single
49 off 19, and SA need a boundary very soon
1W | ||||
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1W |
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The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg | |
Toss | South Africa, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2022/23 |
Player Of The Match | |
Player Of The Series | |
Series result | West Indies won the 3-match series 2-1 |
Match number | T20I no. 2036 |
Match days | 28 March 2023 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |
Over 20 • SA 213/6
West Indies won by 7 runs