[UPDATED] Windies bowlers stifle South Africa to seal T20 series

A stifling bowling performance from West Indies put the brakes on South Africa as the hosts snatched victory by 30 runs in the second T20, for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba on August 25.

After being knocked out the T20 World Cup in the Super Eight phase by South Africa, West Indies would be pleased to exact some measure of revenge against the Proteas, albeit a weakened version of the team that went all the way to the final before losing to India.

West Indies seemed to have learned from the mistakes of the World Cup and the first T20, with better death bowling and less predictability in their bowling attack.

Chasing 180 for victory, South Africa started at a frenetic pace with a 63-run opening stand inside five overs.

However, once the first wicket fell to Guyanese pacer Shamar Joseph, the runs slowly began to dry up for South Africa.

The turning point in the match was the 14th-16th overs, bowled by left-arm spinners Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, which yielded just 13 runs with Hosein taking two wickets and Motie grabbing one.

It left South Africa six down and still needing 42 runs off 24 balls.

Guyanese quicks Joseph (3/31) and Man-of-the-Match Romario Shepherd (3/15) cleaned up the rest to bowl out their rivals for 149, as Windies won handsomely for the second match in a row. Windies won the first T20 by seven wickets.

Shepherd, who was expensive in his three overs (1/39) on August 23, was happy to execute well.

"I'm very pleased. After the first game,, it didn't go so well, but I came back with the same plan but paid more attention to my execution. I take it ball by ball. In the first game I was rushing it." Shepherd said he received words of advice from Pooran during the match and he was able to deliver for his team.

Earlier, brisk knocks from Shai Hope (41 off 22), Rovman Powell (35 off 22), Sherfane Rutherford (29 off 18) and Alick Athanaze (28 off 21) propelled Windies to a healthy 179/6 off their 20 overs.

Windies had a solid start to their innings with Hope and Athanaze putting on 41 runs for the first wicket. However, Athanaze got a bit greedy after hitting pacer Lizaad Williams for four in the final over of the powerplay and was caught out top-edging a hook shot.

Hope, who had 51 in the first match, stayed on the attack with lusty blows against the South African pacers and spinners. There was no discrimination from the Bajan as he lashed off-spinner Aidan Markram for 15 in one over, highlighted by a cracking slog sweep that sailed over the ropes.

Pacer Kwena Maphaka also got a rough introduction in the eight over with Hope and Pooran each hitting him for a six to push WI to 74/1.

Hope's aggression would prove his demise as Patrick Kruger got him to chase a wide delivery which he hit straight to the fielder in the deep.

Kruger got rid of new batsman Roston Chase similarly for seven as the hosts slipped to 94/3.

West Indies brought up their 100 in 13th over, but Windies lost an indecisive Pooran for a run-a-ball 19 as he pulled out too late from a Williams bouncer and gloved to the keeper.

However, Powell and Rutherford gave the Windies a necessary injection of life with some powerful shots.

Rutherford punished South Africa for bowling left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin, taking two sixes and a four in the over, with strokes on both sides of the wicket.

A Powell six off Williams brought up Windies' 150 in the 18th over, but two balls later the WI skipper found the fielder on the boundary off a slower bouncer.

Rutherford fell in the last over searching for quick runs, but Shepherd sent the final ball into the stands to lift the Windies' spirits.

South Africa had a lightning-start to the chase, dismantling pacer Matthew Forde for 17 in the second over. Reeza Hendricks treated Chase's off-spin with utter disdain, blasting him for consecutive sixes before closing the over with back-to-back boundaries.

Joseph got the breakthrough removing Ryan Rickelton caught by Forde for 20 off 12 balls, but South Africa were still on the rampage with ten runs in the over.

However, next over, the final in the powerplay, WI got the big scalp of Hendricks as he played-on to a delivery from Shepherd to be dismissed for a brisk 44 off 18 balls (six fours, two sixes).

Shepherd then ended Markram's stay at the wicket trapping him in front for 19 (nine balls) as the Proteas were pegged back at 86/3 in the 8th over.

A couple tight overs from Motie slowed South Africa who were 107/3 after 11 overs.

With 66 to get from 48 Balls, Tristan Stubbs, who had 76 in the first game, launched Motie for six to signal his intent.

But smart bowling from Hosein got Stubbs (28) caught at long-off as he cramped the right-hander, who was backing away to the leg-side for a big hit.

Windies continued to tighten the screws with Motie getting rid of Donovan Ferreira stumped smartly by Pooran and Hosein accounting for Rassie van der Dussen (17).

Joseph, Shepherd and Forde then ran through the tail to give Windies their third straight T20 series win against South Africa.

The final T20 bowls off on August 27.

SCORES: WEST INDIES 179-6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 41, Rovman Powell 35, Sherfane Rutherford 29, Alick Athanaze 28, Nicholas Pooran 19; Lizaad Williams 3-36, Patrick Kruger 2-29) vs SOUTH AFRICA 149 in 19.4 overs (Reeza Hendricks 44, Tristan Stubbs 28, Ryan Rickelton 20, Aiden Markram 19, Rassie van der Dussen 17; Romario Shepherd 3-15, Shamar Joseph 3-31, Akeal Hosein 2-25).

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A STIFLING bowling performance from West Indies put the brakes on South Africa as the hosts snatched victory by 30 runs in the second T20, for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba on August 25.

After being knocked out the T20 World Cup in the Super Eight phase by South Africa, West Indies would be pleased to exact some measure of revenge against the Proteas, albeit a weakened version of the team that went all the way to the final before losing to India.

West Indies seemed to have learned from the mistakes of the World Cup and the first T20, with better death bowling and less predictability in their bowling attack.

Chasing 180 for victory, South Africa started at a frenetic pace with a 63-run opening stand inside five overs.

However, once the first wicket fell to Guyanese pacer Shamar Joseph, the runs slowly began to dry up for South Africa.

The turning point in the match was the 14th-16th overs, bowled by left-arm spinners Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, which yielded just 13 runs with Hosein taking two wickets and Motie grabbing one.

It left South Africa six down and still needing 42 runs off 24 balls.

Guyanese quicks Joseph (3/31) and Man-of-the-Match Romario Shepherd (3/15) cleaned up the rest to bowl out their rivals for 149, as Windies won handsomely for the second match in a row. Windies won the first T20 by seven wickets.

Earlier, brisk knocks from Shai Hope (41 off 22), Rovman Powell (35 off 22), Sherfane Rutherford (29 off 18) and Alick Athanaze (28 off 21) propelled Windies to a healthy 179/6 off their 20 overs.

The final match of the series bowls off on August 27.