Maharaj Impressive With Ball As De Kock And Rickelton Wrap Up Series With Aplomb 

The Proteas wrapped up the T20 International Series after beating the West Indies by seven wickets – with 15 balls remaining – in the second game at Supersport Park in Centurion in an entertaining, high-scoring affair.

South Africa welcomed back the quartet of Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, and Anrich Nortje after resting them two days ago following their participation in the final of the SA20 for the winners Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

As with the first game, captain Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Shai Hope returned after a niggle kept him out of the opening game in Paarl, but he was dismissed early for four, with just 7 on the scoreboard.

In-form Shimron Hetmyer joined Brandon King at the wicket, and the two put on a staggering 126 runs for the second wicket as both batters exhibited some belligerent strokeplay.

Hetmyer scored a wonderful 75 off 42 balls, which included eight fours and three sixes, while King fell one short of his 50 – being dismissed for 49 off 30 balls, which consisted of five fours and three maximums as well.

Rabada broke the sizable partnership when he had King caught by Stubbs before the sensational Keshav Maharaj – by far the best bowler on the night – dismissed Rovman Powell and the dangerous Hetmyer.

Just as it seemed the Protea attack was pulling the run-rate back, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd put on 76 runs off just 34 balls as they clobbered the death bowling to reach a mighty 221 runs.

West Indies – 221/4

Shimron Hetmyer 75 (42 balls), Sherfane Rutherford 57 (24 balls), Brandon King 49 (30 balls)

Keshav Maharaj 2/22 (4 overs), Kagiso Rabada 1/35 (4 overs)

South Africa chased down the target with relative ease as the West Indies bowlers struggled to make in-roads and de Kock, with Ryan Rickelton, exhibited batting.

While Markram was unable to continue his heroics of the first game – dismissed with the Protea score on 27 – it was the 162-run stand off 72 balls by de Kock and Rickelton that formed the foundation for the series victory.

De Kock scored his highest ever T20I score of 115 off 49 deliveries in his 100th innings – his second century of this format – both tons coming at Supersport Park and both against the West Indies – powering the ball over the ropes for ten sixes. 

In the sixth over, he smashed Jason Holder for six to become the highest run-scorer for South Africa in all of T20 cricket, and earlier, surpassed the 12000-run mark. 

His century came off 43 balls before he fell victim to Akeal Hosein.

Hosein, the pick of the bowlers for the West Indies, also claimed the wicket of Dewald Brevis, but by then the result was a mere formality. 

Rickelton, who reached his third T20I fifty, will take much confidence from this innings, amassing his highest T20I score – finishing 77 not out to go with his unbeaten 40 in Paarl.

It was appropriate then that Rickelton was the player to hit the winning runs as he pulled Matthew Forde through deep midwicket for four. 

These have been two statement victories for the Proteas as preparation for the T20 World Cup could not have gone better.

With the series wrapped up, attention will go to the pazzazz of the third and final Pink Day T20 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday. 

South Africa – 225/3

De Kock 115 (49 balls), Rickelton 77* (36 balls)

Akeal Hosein 2/41 (4 overs)