Dwayne Bravo’s career-best T20 numbers of four to 19 guided the West Indies in the 4th game of the cinq-game series on Thursday to a modest total defense when the home side pulled out a 21-stroke series win over South Africa.
The Protea set an objective of 168 when Captain Kieron Pollard put an unbeatable 51 off 25 balls, with five six and two fours, for the raise to 167 for six in Western India, and relied heavily on the Quinton de Kock to compete at the same venue ahead of the last game on Saturday.
But his rejection of Bravo at the start of the 18th round for a high score of 60 was the death kick for the visitors.
Two further victims were added to the exuberant Allrounder in what was the finishing touch of his award to ensure a complete feeling of that last South Africa tour.
The fitness of South Africa’s leading patient Anrich Nortje is worried, having taken a terrible blow from his left hand knee in the middle of the late onslaught. South Africa ended 146-9.
In the Caribbean side, the Pollard input and the unbroken seventh-wicket stand of the 66th with Fabien Allen (19 not out) were vital when they were first batted.
Again, West Indias labored with Shamsi’s Tabraiz Shamsi and Georges Linde, who matched his personal-best two economic figures for 13 in their third encounter, for Nicholas Pooran’s and Andre Russell’s key wickets.
Not less effective, Linde’s four overheads cost 16 runs, while the wickets of Lendl Simmons and Shimron Hetmyer had a significant reason to celebrate.
Simmons has had a torrid start on his team, with 20 games being finished off by Aiden Markram’s part-time spinner.
With an input of 47, he set the early pace.
However, the introduction of the two specialized slow bowlers immediately stopped the score, and the wickets then fell regularly.
The West Indies were working at 101 for six at the 16th time when Russell’s top ranking sweep to Shamsi was seized shortly.
It needed Pollard’s attack, which helped take 25 races off the front line of Kagiso Rabada, and Allen’s support to bring the world champions to a level of South Africa’s first three overall battles.
“I was glad to be there to make a significant impact towards the end,” stated the skipper of the West Indies.
“I must praise Bravo for his ball too, particularly since he has faced many undue critics of individuals who think he is too old to be a valuable team member anymore.”
When Fabian Allen injured his right shoulder and so attempted to save borders at an early stage, the West Indies were impeded on the field.
While older players had made considerable contributions as Chris Gayle back in the lineup for the match, the first ball he had bowled had stumbled at de Kock’s leading partner Reeza Hendricks.
Andre Russell got two wickets, while Pollard himself joined the wicket by having Rassie van der Dussen captured behind in the highlight of a four-overs performance where he gained 24 runs, despite a continual fight with knee complaints.
