6:25pm Right. That will be that from us for tonight. Thanks for sticking around earlier in the day when the rain fell, although this game certainly ensured that that downpour was not the lasting image today. These two teams will be at it again tomorrow, at this very venue, with South Africa hoping to level the series. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Chandan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo! Goodbye, goodnight and take care!
Rovman Powell, the West Indies captain is also the Player of the Match: I was disappointed with the way I got out in the ODIs. Just trying to bat through the tough periods. Today, the first ball I was respectful and I tried to push it around. A lot of guys in the team are used to the T10 format and that helped us. The ball travels so nicely here and we knew that 130 is gettable. All we needed was for two batters to bat long. We played a lot of shots but there are still periods where you have to push it around. You can't keep hitting good bowlers for sixes. (On plans for tomorrow) We just have to do the basics right. It is important to get wickets with the new ball and that is the only way to stop a strong South African batting line-up.
Aiden Markram, South Africa captain: (Where things went wrong) It was always going to go down to the wire. Starting off with the bat and ball, we let ourselves down. To take it down to the last over after the start they had was a great effort by the bowlers. Tomorrow, hopefully we can come back and start a lot better. At a venue like this, the ball flies. We always knew we needed a lot of runs on the board. We would have taken 130 at the start but I still think we could have started better. Plenty of positives we can take. Lots of bowlers did excellently today. It will be a fresh day tomorrow, a fresh start and guys who did not do well today can come back tomorrow.
Bacha Khan : "Rovman Powell is such a great hitter of the ball, I truly enjoy his hitting when he is in the mood. hats off to him "
6:12pm An extraordinarily entertaining game of cricket that ebbed, flowed and ultimately tilted towards the West Indies. Skipper Powell played a major role, starring with an unbeaten 43, which came off just 18 balls. Charles, King and Pooran also came up with crucial cameos and ensured that the West Indies stayed ahead of the required run-rate throughout their innings. There was a slight wobble towards the end as Magala and Nortje tightened the screws in the 9th and 10th overs. But Powell held his nerve to ensure that he took his team past the finish line.
South Africa might not want to read too much into this contest, although they might not be pleased with how they bowled at the start and in the middle phases. Fortuin conceded 42 in two overs, Shamsi went for 27 in his two, and Parnell gave away 25 runs in the nine balls he bowled. Against a power-packed batting unit, the hosts would want their bowlers to stand up when these teams meet next.
Scores level now
Square leg, third man, point and extra cover in the circle
Eight needed off the final over. Parnell to bowl. Powell on strike. What a climax to a thoroughly entertaining game!
END OF OVER:10 | 9 Runs 2 Wkts | WI: 124/7 (9 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 12.40, RRR: 9.00)
- Roston Chase4 (2b)
- Rovman Powell36 (15b)
- Sisanda Magala2-0-21-3
- Anrich Nortje3-0-17-1
Big ball coming up
Right then. Magala is on a hat-trick now, and he has Chase in his sights
AJ Hosein c †de Kock b Magala 0 (2m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Akeal Hosein walks out to the middle. Mid off is up in the circle, third man is back on the fence
OF Smith b Magala 5 (9m 5b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00
Magala to bowl the penultimate over. Another tight over, and the West Indies might start feeling the pinch. Magala has a reputation of holding his nerve at the death.
END OF OVER:9 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 115/5 (18 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 12.77, RRR: 9.00)
- Odean Smith1 (3b)
- Rovman Powell35 (14b)
- Anrich Nortje3-0-17-1
- Bjorn Fortuin2-0-42-1
Smith on strike. Will Nortje test him out with a bouncer first up? With South Africa needing wickets, do not rule out a yorker either
Smith is in at 7 but he is at the non-striker's end for now
R Shepherd run out 3 (14m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
20 off 18 now. Surely the West Indies will not botch this run-chase? The crowd, meanwhile, has gone silent. You could almost hear a pin drop now
END OF OVER:8 | 25 Runs | WI: 112/4 (21 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 14.00, RRR: 7.00)
- Rovman Powell33 (12b)
- Romario Shepherd3 (5b)
- Bjorn Fortuin2-0-42-1
- Anrich Nortje2-0-14-1