A brilliant bounce back with the ball has turned the game on its head today, as the West Indies have won yet another T20I series against the Proteas.

For a change, Aiden Markram won the toss and bowled first, and it appeared to be an inspired decision as the bowlers kept things tight early on. Alick Athanaze got off to a quick start, but Lizaad Williams bounced him out with a well-directed short ball.

Shai Hope attacked pace and spin, and took a liking to Markram’s part-time offies. However, his stay came to an end when he holed out to deep extra cover off Patrick Kruger’s medium pace.

Kruger would dismiss Roston Chase, another right-hander, in the same manner. But from then onwards, it was a brutal assault from Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford that kept the Proteas momentum in check.

In spite of a mild slowdown in the middle overs, the hosts still got 50 from the final 5 overs, and finished with a respectable 179/6 at halftime.

It looked like South Africa’s game to win, as Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks jetted off in the Powerplay. Shamar Joseph had Rickelton holing out to deep backward square, and Hendricks inside-edged onto his stumps off Romario Shepherd, who impressed in his 4 overs.

Tristan Stubbs and Rassie van der Dussen kept the ball rolling, but were unable to find the boundary regularly after the halfway mark. The quest for quick runs brought about the end of Stubbs. It was spin to win for the Windies, as Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein never relented and struck when their team needed it most.

Donovan Ferreira and Patrick Kruger both fell for single digits, and it was too much for the lower order to muster. Joseph starred with 3 wickets, and Matthew Forde wrapped up the chase in the final over with the wicket of Baartman.

A rollicking start was followed by a pretty insipid performance from then onwards, and the Windies successfully capitalized on the opportunities. But in any case, there’s still something to play for, come Tuesday. It’s been a priceless learning experience for the newcomers in this SA side, and the only way is up.

WI 179/6 in 20 overs (Hope 41, Powell 35 – Williams 4-0-36-3)

SA 149 all out in 19.4 overs (Hendricks 44 – Shepherd 4-0-15-3, S Joseph 4-0-31-3)