West Indies, South Africa set to lock horns in T20Is after five years

After a commanding 2-0 victory over West Indies in Tests, South Africa will be looking to carry forward that momentum into the five-match T20I series.

Kagiso Rabada (Image Credit: Twitter/@OfficialCSA)
By Arnab Mukherji | Jun 25, 2021 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

South Africa will look to deliver a fine performance in the five-match T20I series against West Indies, which will begin on 26 June. The Proteas will be confident of making their presence felt having recorded a commanding 2-0 win over the Windies in the recently concluded Test series. The first T20I between West Indies and South Africa will take place at the National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada on 26 June.

The Proteas will be wary of the challenges that an experienced T20 side like West Indies can pose, despite the dominance in Tests. The likes of Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle and Andre Russell will be back in action alongside white-ball specialists Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, Lendl Simmons, and Shimron Hetmyer under the captaincy of Kieron Pollard. South Africa’s pace attack proved to be the undoing of the West Indies team in Tests. The Proteas will find confidence in this aspect. Hefty options like Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Sisanda Magala, Lizaad Williams with the latest addition of left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks will certainly make the unit quite imposing. There are two changes that have been made in South Africa’s T20I squad with Wiaan Mulder replacing Dwaine Pretorius and Beuran Hendricks added as cover.

“Kagiso Rabada is world-class”

South Africa captain Quinton de Kock was full of praise for Kagiso Rabada, hailing him as a world-beater.

“Kagiso Rabada is a world-beater and world-class, and what we expect from him and he expects of himself. He’s a great character to have. I’m glad I don’t have to face Ngidi and Nortje; I just have to face them in the nets,” said De Kock, indicating his appreciation for the pacer.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons termed the upcoming T20Is as crucial in terms of the team’s preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup.

“These upcoming T20Is are crucial in terms of our preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup. We have assembled a very solid squad with experienced world-class match-winners and some exciting young talented players, ready to explode onto the global stage and do great things for West Indies cricket,” he said as quoted by ICC.

The two teams were last seen facing off in the Super 10 stage of the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup, which is when the sides last battled it out in the shortest format of the game. West Indies came out on top with just three wickets in hand and two balls to spare in a low-scoring thriller.

Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell were the pick of the bowlers for the Caribbean-based side, accounting for two dismissals apiece. These wickets helped restrict South Africa to 122/8 despite Quinton de Kock’s 46-ball 47. West Indies found the chase tricky when they were reduced to 100/6 in the 17th over. However, Marlon Samuels’ knock of 43 steered the Caribbean-based side to safety before Carlos Braithwaite sealed the game with a six in the final over.

It will be interesting to note which team emerges victorious in the upcoming T20I series, considering the presence of some of the best in the business.





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