Desperate to catch up in their respective campaigns, both teams will be looking for improvements on the batting side of the equation, curtailed by opposition bowling in their first-match efforts.

Restricted to 118-9 in their 20 overs against Australia, the Proteas’ performance was somewhat helped by a confident effort in the field, taking the match to its final over in a five-wicket defeat.

OPINION: No identity, poor execution – just fighting words from poor Proteas

While Temba Bavuma’s men cushioned a potentially crippling net run- rate blow, the same cannot be said for Kieron Pollard’s West Indies, who were crushed by England in just 8.2 overs in the chase after posting a meagre target of 56. Having seemingly recovered from losing two early wickets, a collapse of 28-8 pushed the West Indies out of the game, unable to hit back against an English attack firing on all cylinders.

With not enough on the board to defend, Pollard almost used the England innings to allow Akeal Hosein to find a rhythm at the bowling crease. A late inclusion in the squad after injury forced Fabian Allen out of the tournament, Hosein found his groove, taking two excellent catches off his own bowling to finish with figures of 2-24 off four overs.

Hosein’s performance was the sole positive from the West Indies’ effort, though vibes in the group look positive, shaking the result off as an aberration. Looking back at tournament history, the West Indies fell to Afghanistan at the end of the Super 10 phase during their 2016 campaign, before victories over India and England to claim their second title in the event.

Between the two combatants in this upcoming fixture, however, it is South Africa with the edge. The teams faced off in a five-match T20I series earlier in the year in Grenada, with the tourists claiming a see-sawing series 3-2. A one-run victory in the third match proved the difference, with South Africa winning all their matches batting first.

The series was the first for Bavuma as skipper, passing his first test on the back of smart bowling, and the work of Quinton de Kock with the bat. Posting at least 160 in all four of the matches in the series batting first, De Kock’s 255 series runs (at 51.00, strike rate 141.66) was complemented by contributions around him, most notably Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen.

On the West Indian side, the series was used to experiment with the batting lineup, though questions of frailties against spin bowling went largely unanswered, as Tabraiz Shamsi caused havoc. Claiming seven wickets across the five matches at an economy of four, Pollard’s men may need a different plan of attack against the wrist-spinner.

Tuesday’s match begins at 12am (SA time).

ALSO READ: Don’t keep bickering on about Proteas’ batting – Rabada

Possible South Africa XI: Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Possible West Indies XI: Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard (c), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Hayden Walsh Jnr, Obed McCoy, Ravi Rampaul.

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Cricket South Africa director of cricket Graeme Smith said South Africa would play two Test matches and five Twenty20 internationals in the Caribbean during a tour which will start in early June at venues which had still to be finalised.

The South African white-ball players will then travel directly to Ireland for a previously-announced tour in July.

After a short break further white-ball tours are planned to Sri Lanka and India, leading in to the World Cup.

Smith acknowledged that the tour of India in September could clash with a possible resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which was paused in mid-tournament on Tuesday after outbreaks of Covid-19 in three of the franchise camps.

‘With what’s happening in India with Covid and the IPL, we need to give the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) time to gather their thoughts,’ he said.

‘The challenges India are facing as a country are immense.’

Smith said he wanted the Proteas to field their best possible team at the World Cup. That could include AB de Villiers, if he comes out of international retirement, and free agents such as Imran Tahir and Chris Morris, who are no longer contracted to be available for South Africa.

‘We have seen the success the West Indies has had in bringing back free agents,’ said Smith.

‘But there are many factors involved, including team dynamics. Our focus has always been on trying to get our best squad together for an extensive time.’

Smith praised the Indian board for their handling of the Covid outbreak.

‘The duty of care they have shown in getting everyone home has been exemplary,’ he said adding that all of the South African players and coaching staff involved in the IPL would be back in South Africa by Friday.

AFP

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After winning the toss and electing to field, Proteas’ pacer Shabnim Ismail was on fire once again as she dismissed the Windies’ destructive top threesome of Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor within four overs to reduce the hosts to 24-3 in the powerplay.

Fellow opening pacer Marizanne Kapp was unlucky to be denied a wicket by a contentious call from the TV umpire. The Proteas reviewed the on-field decision that Shemaine Campbelle had not nicked the ball to the keeper but replays clearly confirmed the ball hit the bat. However, without having received a soft signal from the square-leg umpire prior to the review, the TV umpire judged the ball to have just fallen short on a close call – resulting in the unhappy South African Women losing their review for the innings.

The West Indies Women lost wickets regularly throughout the first half of their innings and were struggling on 29-4 in the eighth over before Natasha McLean (28 off 24 balls, three fours) and wicketkeeper-batter Kycia Knight came together for the fifth wicket to post a defiant 45-run stand.

Knight stepped on the accelerator towards the end of the innings but Proteas’ captain Dane van Niekerk (3-0-8-2) took matters into her own hands and returned to the attack to dismiss the Barbadian for 32 off 36 balls (two fours, two sixes).

Ismail returned to the attack and showed her class at the death, conceding just five runs in the final over to restrict the Windies to 107-7 off their 20 overs.

Read also: Ismail tears Sri Lankan batters apart 

South Africa started superbly and were looking on course for the win at 48-1 in the 11th over, with Marizanne Kapp and Lizelle Lee having added 31 for the second wicket.

Inspired bowling and fielding from the world champ Windies saw the Proteas crumble in the second half of their innings, losing their last nine wickets for 28 runs as they were bowled out for just 76 runs from 18.4 overs. Marizanne Kapp’s 26 off 34 balls (two fours) was the innings’ top score, followed by Lizelle Lee’s 24 off 34 balls (one four, one six).

The late flurry for runs at the end of the innings saw five Proteas wickets tumble in the space of 12 balls for just one run, with the last two balls both yielding run outs to close the Proteas innings.

Windies captain Taylor was at the forefront of the home team’s dominance as she picked up 4-12 in her 3.4 (3.27) overs to earn her both the win and the Player of the Match accolade. Shamilia Connell (1-9, 2.25) and Chinelle Henry (0-9, econ 3.00) were also impressive with the ball.

The Proteas face England Women on Friday and will need a win to retain hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals, while the West Indies will take on Sri Lanka on Saturday with the hopes of sealing qualification for the next round after two wins from two.

Scorecard

Photo: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

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Eager to offer experience to the younger members of the touring squad, the Proteas gave T20I caps to four players, 21-year-old Robyn Searle, as well as a trio of 19-year-olds – Faye Tunnicliffe, Saarah Smith and Tumi Sekhukhune, the latter having made her ODI debut against the world champions a week ago.

Playing in her 50th T20I, Lizelle Lee took the captain’s armband as star all-rounder Dane van Niekerk was rested. The West Indies would have hoped to cash in on Van Niekerk’s absence from the attack – along with the presence of two debutant bowlers – but they were in for a shock.

The Proteas’ new talent shone brightly alongside the experienced campaigners in the attack, keeping a tight rein on the West Indies batters to restrict them to a modest 124-6 off their 20 overs. It was a brilliant bowling display from the entire Proteas attack, with two of the debutants producing excellent spells of bowling.

Smith picked up 2-17 (econ 5.66) with her right-arm offbreaks, while Sekhukhune (who impressed during the ODI series) was exceptional, restricting the West Indies batters to just three runs an over off her bowling. Sekhukhune’s figures of 4-0-12-1 – with 15 dot balls and just one boundary conceded – marked another brilliant debut for the young woman, following her figures of 2-28 on her ODI debut.

The youngsters were back up by Zintle Mali, who picked up 2-24 (econ 8.00), and Marizanne Kapp (1-25, econ 6.25).

Natasha McLean top-scored for the West Indies with 38 off 41 balls (four fours), followed by Deandra Dottin with 22 off 19 (three fours).

Merissa Aguilleira (14 not out) and Kycia Knight (14 not out) added a vital 26 in the last three overs to lift the West Indies to 124-6 off their 20 overs and give themselves a defendable total.

Lee fell again in the opening over, followed in the fourth over by Laura Wolvaardt for eight off 14 balls. Debutant Searle batted well until being run out for 14 off 30 balls, and with Mignon du Preez falling for 13 off 12 balls the Proteas found themselves staring down the barrel on 49-4 at the halfway mark of the innings.

The middle order rose to the challenge, Chloe Tryon scoring 23 off 16 balls and debutant Tunnicliffe weighing in with 14 off 29 balls. Kapp hit out powerfully at the end before falling in the final over for 30 off 22 balls as the Proteas ended on 107-7 to lose the opening T20I by 17 runs against a relieved West Indies side.

While it would have been disappointing for the Proteas batters to once again fail to back up the great work of their bowlers, it should fill the team with confidence that they have the firepower to win matches. When the batters start to fire again, this side will be serious challengers for the T20I title in November.

Tour Schedule
2nd T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy – Friday, 28 September
3rd T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy – Sunday, 30 September
4th T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy – Wednesday, 3 October
5th T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy – Saturday, 6 October

Scorecard

Photo: Cricket South Africa (Instagram)

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Video: England & Wales Cricket Board

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