Player of the Match
Player of the Match

7.30pm That's all we have for you from this game. The action now shifts to the WCPL game between TKR and GAW. Until next time, this is Deivarayan Muthu signing off on the behalf of Ekanth and Vairavan. Take care and cheers.

7.15pm That is that. WI go 1-0 in Tarouba. Stubbs and Kruger rescued SA to 174 after a rain delay, but WI overhauled the target with almost two overs and seven wickets to spare. After Hope and Athanaze smacked 75 together in the powerplay, Pooran launched from that platform and went on a six-hitting spree. He cleared the boundary seven times on his way to an unbeaten 65 off 26 balls at a strike rate of 250. No boundary was big enough for the local boy at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Earlier in the day, Forde, who was picked ahead of McCoy, impressed with the ball for the hosts coming away with 3 for 27 in his four overs.

Pooran, Player of the Match: I just felt like Shai [Hope] and Alick [Athanaze] put SA under pressure in the powerplay. At the ten-over mark, we knew it was a better wicket and my job was simple and I just had to take on my match-ups. With rain around, the first ten overs were tricky when SA batted. Stubbs and Kruger played well, but we knew the wicket would get better [later].

Markram: We saw the ball coming on well [later in the evening]. Because of that we probably came up a few short. We would've liked 20 [runs] more and the wicket was tacky upfront and the wicket then got better and better. Maphaka has a lot of X-factor and is really young. He has hunger when you speak to him off the field and he wants to win games for SA.

Powell: I think it's always good to go 1-0 up. We bowled well in the powerplay and though we let them off a bit, we were good with the bat. The guys look a bit rusty, which is unacceptable at this level. To be honest, a lot of talk is around the next T20 World Cup but we have to play one game at a time and see different players. We have to stay in the moment and the 2026 T20 World Cup is too far for us.


17.5
4
Maphaka to Chase, FOUR, shortish and veering down the leg side, Chase helps it away fine past the keeper to seal WI's victory

Chase joins Pooran

tara: "WICKET ON DEBUT! Maphaka you beauty! <3"

17.4
W
Maphaka to Powell, OUT, Maiden international wicket for Maphaka. Pitched up and outside off, draws Powell into a drive. The WI captain doesn't get enough elevation to clear extra-cover

R Powell c Kruger b Maphaka 7 (21m 15b 0x4 0x6) SR: 46.66

17.3
0
Maphaka to Powell, no run, full and nipping back into middle, played back to the debutant
17.2
0
Maphaka to Powell, no run, wide on the crease, shorter and outside off. Powell rides the bounce and guides it to point
17.1
0
Maphaka to Powell, no run, off-stump yorker, swings into Powell who somehow keeps it out

WI need just 3 off 18 balls

END OF OVER:
17 | 8 Runs | WI: 172/2 (3 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 10.11, RRR: 1.00)

  • Rovman Powell7 (11b)
  • Nicholas Pooran65 (26b)
  • Ottneil Baartman4-0-30-2
  • Patrick Kruger3-0-28-0
16.6
1
Baartman to Powell, 1 run, banged in short and aimed at the body, Powell controls a pull to deep midwicket

Odinlass: "Agree, @Sam. Akeal is superb. Has the ability to come back after a few bad deliveries. Did it against the Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred just last week. Also, what a pasting by WI tonight. Pooran is just ... WOW. But Hope is class."

16.5
1
Baartman to Pooran, 1 run, yorker-length delivery on middle, jabbed down to long-off
16.4
1
Baartman to Powell, 1 run, Powell swivels into a pull and gets it away to deep midwicket
16.3
1
Baartman to Pooran, 1 run, back of a length and outside off, chopped away to the right of point for a single
16.2
1
Baartman to Powell, 1 run, Powell rides the bounce of this short delivery outside off and glides it away to the right of deep third
16.1
1
Baartman to Pooran, 1 run, slowie on the pads, helped away wide of short fine leg by Pooran

Sathyen: "The freedom with which Nicky P is batting and the class with which he is taking down the bowlers shows what West Indies were missing in Tests. He would have undoubtedly been a world class Test player but not to be."

16.1
1w
Baartman to Pooran, 1 wide, yet another leg-side wide from Baartman as Pooran ramps up the pressure on SA's attack

Sam: "Just saw the score card. Akeal is a real deal for IPL"

16.1
1w
Baartman to Pooran, 1 wide, full and speared down the leg side. Pooran doesn't connect with this

WI need only 11 off 24 balls

END OF OVER:
16 | 18 Runs | WI: 164/2 (11 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 10.25, RRR: 2.75)

  • Nicholas Pooran62 (23b)
  • Rovman Powell4 (8b)
  • Patrick Kruger3-0-28-0
  • Kwena Maphaka3-0-21-0
15.6
1
Kruger to Pooran, 1 run, wide full-toss from Kruger. Pooran reaches out for this delivery and drives with an open face to sweeper cover
15.5
6
Kruger to Pooran, SIX, slowie on a length and outside off, but Pooran can manufacture his own pace. He wallops it over wide long-on for a 110-metre six

West Indies 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st84SD HopeA Athanaze
2nd54SD HopeN Pooran
3rd34N PooranR Powell
4th4RL ChaseN Pooran