South Africa came up with an improved batting effort in the second T20I but it wasn’t enough to go past West Indies’ total of 207/7 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica as the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Roston Chase struck a 38-ball 67 not out and was supported well by the other batters as the hosts posted a good total after opting to bat. Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks then gave a blazing start in the chase but the West Indies bowlers came back well, led by economical performances from Gudakesh Motie (3-22), Romario Shepherd (1-23) and Chase (1-26) to restrict South Africa to 191/7.

De Kock was in a belligerent mood, as was Reeza Hendricks, as they struck seven sixes and six fours between them inside the first five overs to power South Africa past 80. But de Kock’s stay came to an end on 41 off 17 when he was bowled by Akeal Hosein and Hendricks (34 off 18) followed soon after, bowled by Chase, with South Africa ending the powerplay at 85/2. Matthew Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton put on a useful partnership as they helped South Africa forward in the chase, bringing the equation down to 100 off 11 overs.

But regular wickets hampered South Africa in the second half of their innings, with Breetzke getting run out and Rickelton falling to Shepherd. South Africa slipped to 138/5 in the 15th over when Motie accounted for the wicket of Andile Phehlukwayo. Captain Rassie van der Dussen struck a 22-ball 30 as he tried to revive the chase but Motie bagged his wicket and sent Wiaan Mulder back soon after. South Africa needed 38 off the last three overs but Shepherd gave away only 13 in the two overs he bowled at the end, ensuring a victory for the home side.

Earlier, West Indies lost Johnson Charles early but they did have a decent powerplay as they got to 51/1. Brandon King extended his good form as he struck a quick-fire 36 before debutant Nqaba Peter ended his stay. Kyle Mayers then took over, dealing in sixes regularly. But Peter also bagged Mayers’s wicket, dismissing him for 32 off 16, as West Indies finished at 88/3 at the halfway stage of their innings.

Andre Fletcher and Chase then put on a brisk 56-run stand to give West Indies the momentum they were looking for ahead of the death overs. A 63-run stand off only 25 balls between Chase and Shepherd ensued, which powered West Indies past 200 in the 19th over. Although the hosts lost quick wickets towards the end, they finished with a sizable score, one that proved enough thanks to their good comeback with the ball.

Brief scores: West Indies 207/7 in 20 overs (Roston Chase 67*, Brandon King 36; Nqaba Peter 2-32, Lungi Ngidi 2-41) beat South Africa 191/7 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 41, Reeza Hendricks 34; Gudakesh Motie 3-22, Romario Shepherd 1-23) by 16 runs.

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