West Indies 176 for 3 (Pooran 65*, Hope 51, Athanaze 40, Baartman 2-30) defeated South Africa 174 for 7 (Stubbs 76, Kruger 44, Forde 3-27, Shamar 2-40) by seven wickets.
West Indies achieved the highest successful T20 chase at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against South Africa. After electing to bowl first, the start was delayed by an hour due to heavy rain. West Indies dominated early, reducing South Africa to 42 for 5 after eight overs. South Africa’s recovery came from a sixth-wicket stand of 71 runs off 50 balls between Patrick Kruger and Tristan Stubbs, followed by a seventh-wicket partnership of 60 runs off 25 balls between Stubbs and Bjorn Fortuin. Matthew Forde, in his third T20I, matched his career-best figures with 3 for 27.
In the chase, West Indies were always in control. Shai Hope and Alick Athanaze added 84 runs in 49 balls for the opening wicket. Hope and Nicholas Pooran then shared a 54-run partnership off 33 balls that effectively sealed the game. Pooran was particularly dominant against South Africa’s inexperienced attack, scoring his fastest T20I fifty off 20 balls and remaining unbeaten on 65 off 26 balls.
