West Indies claimed a dramatic consolation win over South Africa in a T20I reduced to 10 overs a side at the Wanderers, securing a thrilling six-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. The match, part of the annual pink-ball fixture to raise awareness for breast cancer treatment, was delayed multiple times due to lightning, but fans were treated to an explosive display from the Caribbean side.
The West Indies innings was powered by Shimron Hetmyer (48*) and Shai Hope (48), who blazed through South Africa’s bowling with a combination of sixes and boundaries. Hetmyer’s fearless approach included multiple towering sixes, one of which famously landed on a spectator before he was checked for injuries. The pair guided the hosts to 114 for 3 in 10 overs, setting a challenging target of 125 under the revised rules.
South Africa started strongly, with Quinton de Kock striking 28 early runs, but early breakthroughs from Gudakesh Motie (3-17) and smart fielding from Rovman Powell and Jason Holder slowed the chase. Despite a late surge from Jason Smith and Tristan Stubbs, the equation became too steep, leaving Shamar Joseph to bowl the final over. Joseph’s perfect yorkers and clinical execution dismantled South Africa’s hopes, removing Smith and keeping the visitors eight runs short off the last delivery.
The win not only gave West Indies a morale boost ahead of the T20 World Cup, but also showcased their ability to handle high-pressure situations in a condensed format. After two heavy defeats in the series, the Caribbean side’s nerve under fire and their explosive middle-order hitting will be key takeaways for the coaching staff.
For South Africa, the match offered valuable exposure for untested middle-order batters, while the narrow loss in the first-ever pink-ball T20I at the Wanderers will serve as a lesson in handling pressure in limited-overs crunch situations.
