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.
Chase joins Pooran
tara: "WICKET ON DEBUT! Maphaka you beauty! <3"
R Powell c Kruger b Maphaka 7 (21m 15b 0x4 0x6) SR: 46.66
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
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."
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."
Sam: "Just saw the score card. Akeal is a real deal for IPL"
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