Stand-in captain
Brandon King
scored 79 runs as West Indies triumphed over
South Africa
by 28 runs in the first Twenty20 international of a three-game series in Kingston on Thursday.
King, opening the batting in place of skipper Rovman Powell, who is away on IPL duty, smashed 79 off 45 balls, hitting six sixes and six boundaries, leading West Indies to a total of 175 for 8 in their 20 overs.
In response, South Africa struggled to 147 all out, despite Reeza Hendricks achieving his 15th T20 international half-century.
"I know the conditions well, which was an advantage," said 'Player of the Match' King who was playing at his home Sabina Park ground. "We knew we had to go hard against the new ball as it'd get tougher later. We had 200-220 in mind as we had wickets in hand but fell short on a tough pitch."
South Africa never recovered after losing star opener Quinton de Kock for just four runs in the first over.
Fellow opener Reeza Hendricks, who made a career-best 87 off 51 balls with six sixes and six fours, was the ninth man out with just two balls left in the innings.
The Proteas struggled to gain momentum, managing only 77 runs in the first 10 overs, and lost wickets regularly thereafter.
West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie tore through the middle order, including captain Rassie van der Dussen for 17, finishing with figures of 3 for 25.
Matthew Breetzke (19) was the only other South African batsman to reach double figures.
Fast bowler Matthew Forde, playing only his second T20 international, took 3 for 27, dismissing De Kock and then Hendricks and Ottneil Baartman off successive balls to end the South African innings on the fifth delivery of the last over.
"West Indies played differently to what we had anticipated," said Van der Dussen. "Had they not started so well, it'd have been different, but we need to learn to adapt quicker."
Making the most of his local knowledge, 29-year-old Brandon King recorded his 10th international half-century.
He shared a 79-run partnership for the second wicket with Kyle Mayers, who scored 34 from 25 balls, including three sixes and one four.
Together, they propelled the West Indies, two-time world champions in the game's shortest format, to 109 for 1 after 10 overs.
South African all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo then slowed the momentum with his medium pace, dismissing King and then sending back Andre Fletcher and Fabian Allen within four balls in the 15th over.
Phehlukwayo finished with impressive figures of 3 for 28 from his four overs.
Fast bowler Ottneil Baartman also excelled on his debut, taking 3 for 26 and dismissing opener Johnson Charles (1), Akeal Hosein (2) and Matthew Forde (5).
Roston Chase remained unbeaten, scoring 32 off 30 deliveries.
The second and third games of the series will also be played in Kingston on Saturday and Sunday, ahead of the T20 World Cup, hosted by the West Indies and the United States, starting on June 2.
(With AFP inputs)
English (US) ·