Maiden Match As ODI Captain Gives Windies Hope For The Future
Jamaican all-rounder Rovman Powell aims to follow Bajan’s example when he takes the helm as T20I skipper against SA
Shai Hope’s new role as One-Day International (ODI) captain ended with a share of the spoils, as well as scooping a shared Player of the Series award, against hosts South Africa.
The Bajan wicketkeeper/batsman who only took over from outgoing skipper Nicholas Pooran last month, after the Trinidadian stepped down following the poor performances at the T20 World Cup in Australia.
Hope’s first shot at the helm ended in a washout at Buffalo Park in East London last Thursday. He returned to the same stadium two days later and, courtesy of his electrifying unbeaten century, helped guide the Windies to a one-sided 48-run victory.
His luck was not in on Tuesday, managing just 16 runs from 27 deliveries before being sent back to the pavilion at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom. Only Jamaican opener Brandon King (72), Pooran (36) and former captain Jason Holder (39) showed composure and competitiveness at the crease.
The tourists were brimming with confidence following their success in the 2nd ODI, although they would have breezed past South Africa had their catching and fielding been up to their usual standard.
Hope held their innings together with 128no from 115 deliveries, as they reached an impressive 335-8. Jamaican Rovman Powell, newly-installed as T20I skipper, came the closest to reaching a half-century but finished four runs short.
Temba Bavuma (144) and Quinton de Kock (48) put on a swift 76-run opening wicket partnership as South Africa seized early control. But Bavuma had little support in the middle, with Antiguan pacer Alzarri Joseph and Trinidadian left-arm orthodox bowler Akeal Hosein nabbing three wickets a-piece to whittle out South Africa for 287.
With a 1-0 lead, the Windies generally stuttered through their innings — apart from the fireworks by big-hitting duo King and Holder — to be dismissed for just 260.
In response, Joseph (3-50) and Hosein (2-49) were causing all sorts of problems for the hosts, who appeared to be in trouble at 73-3.
It took a colossal innings from Heinrich Klaasen, with his unbeaten knock of 119 from just 61 balls, to turn the tables as they surpassed their target in under 30 overs. Marco Jansen (43) played a superb supporting role to Klaasen, who shared the prestigious Player of the Series award with Hope.
Hope admitted: “They clearly outplayed us and we have only ourselves to blame. We batted well, but our bowling fell apart. You have to keep learning on the job. We don’t focus on the negatives too much, we want to keep doing the job well.”
The focus will now be on all-rounder Powell, who has stepped into Pooran’s shoes for the forthcoming three-match T20I series. The SuperSport Park in Centurion hosts back-to-back contests this weekend, followed by the final match on Tuesday inside Johannesburg’s The Wanderers Stadium to wrap up the tour.
WEST INDIES’ TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA
1st Test | South Africa beat West Indies by 87 runs
SA 342 (86.3 overs) & 116 (28 overs)
WI 212 (69 overs) & 159 (21 overs)
2nd Test | South Africa beat West Indies by 284 runs
SA 320 (92.2 overs) & 321 (100.4 overs)
WI 251 (79.3 overs) & 106 (35.1 overs)
1st ODI | Match abandoned (rain)
2nd ODI | West Indies beat South Africa by 48 runs
WI 335-8 (50 overs)
SA 287 (41.4 overs)
3rd ODI | South Africa beat West Indies by four wickets
WI 260 (48.2 overs)
SA 264-6 (29/3 overs)
1st T20I | 25 March (SuperSport Park, Centurion)
2nd T20I | 26 March (SuperSport Park, Centurion)
3rd T20I | 28 March (The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg)
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