West Indies claim consolation win over South Africa in rain- and lightning-hit match

West Indies secured a six-run DLS victory over South Africa, powered by identical scores of 48 from captain Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, in a rain- and lightning-disrupted third and final T20 International at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The start of the match was delayed by 75 minutes due to lightning. Batting first, West Indies managed 114 for 3 in 10 overs. After six overs of the Powerplay, their score stood at 66 for 1 when lightning returned and play was once again suspended.

At the time of the interruption, Shai Hope was unbeaten on 38 off 19 balls, including three fours and three sixes, while Hetmyer was not out on 26 off 14 deliveries. When play resumed, the visitors were left with only four overs to bat.

Soon after the restart, Hope struck a six off Keshav Maharaj but was dismissed on the following delivery, caught by Corbin Bosch at long off. Hetmyer then struck two more sixes off Maharaj, leaving the spinner with figures of 2 overs for 38 runs without a wicket. Both Maharaj and Aiden Markram had conceded 18 runs each from the single over they bowled before the interruption.

Rovman Powell scored 13 off seven balls, hitting two sixes. Towards the end, Corbin Bosch bowled two excellent overs, conceding just 10 runs, but Hetmyer punished a low full toss in the final over by smashing it over square leg for six. Hetmyer finished unbeaten on 48 off 22 balls, which included one four and six sixes.

Earlier, opener Johnson Charles was the only West Indies batter to be dismissed before the interruption. He drove Lungi Ngidi to short extra cover, where Jason Smith took a sharp catch.

South Africa’s DLS-adjusted target was revised to 125 runs. Quinton de Kock gave the hosts a flying start, scoring 19 runs off the first over bowled by Jason Holder. However, left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein pulled things back with a tight over that cost just four runs.

De Kock was dismissed for 28 off 14 balls, caught at long on off Gudakesh Motie, slowing South Africa’s momentum. Motie finished with figures of 2 overs for 17 runs and three wickets. The quick dismissals of Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis further increased the pressure on the hosts.

Brevis’ dismissal proved to be the turning point of the match. After being dropped earlier by Romario Shepherd, Brevis was later caught brilliantly by the same fielder on the long-on boundary, who then relayed the ball to Jason Holder before stepping over the rope.

Late resistance from Jason Smith and George Linde gave South Africa some hope, but with 16 runs required in the final over, Shamar Joseph produced a superb yorker to bowl Smith. South Africa ultimately fell short of the target, handing West Indies a dramatic six-run victory.