Despite a Quinton de Kock half-century, the West Indies have bounced back, squared the series, and set up a decider for the next game following a clinical performance with the ball.

So far, the first innings totals this series have all been nearly identical. But this was an excellent team effort from the hosts to bowl their way back into contention and then take the upper hand.

There was plenty resting on Quinton de Kock’s shoulders after the swift dismissals of Reeza Hendricks and Temba Bavuma. Chris Gayle was given the ball rather early, and that experiment from Pollard paid immediate dividends when Hendricks was stumped. Bavuma was trapped lbw off a dipping slower ball from Obed McCoy while attempting a premeditated scoop over fine-leg.

Aiden Markram helped consolidate, but his burgeoning innings was cut short by an excellent change of pace from Andre Russell. It was another familiar middle-order collapse as van der Dussen, Miller, and Linde all fell attempting ambitious strokes, and the Windies pacers reaped full benefits whenever they slowed it up a touch.

Considering the surface was quite conducive to spin, one would think that Fabian Allen’s on-field shoulder injury would prove to be detrimental for the Windies, but that wasn’t the case, with the pacers creating inroad after inroad regularly. There were plenty of expectations on David Miller to perform. He hit a maximum off Russell, but gave his wicket away the very next delivery.

Quinton de Kock battled hard for a fighting 60, but his dismissal in the 18th over all but spelled the end for a potential late comeback.

The series is now 2-2, and the final game is for all the marbles. Who will step up when the stakes are high, and can the Proteas rebound from this defeat?

WI 167-6 in 20 overs
SA 146-9 in 20 overs (de Kock 60, Markram 20 – Bravo 4-0-19-4, Russell 4-0-30-2)