Nicholas Pooran's explosive knock secures win for West Indies against South Africa

Nicholas Pooran unleashed a stunning unbeaten 65 off just 26 balls, leading the West Indies to a convincing seven-wicket victory over an experimental South Africa side in their T20I clash at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Stadium on Friday.

In the first match of the three-game series, West Indies opted to bowl first and made an immediate impact with the ball.

The Caribbean bowlers dismantled South Africa’s top order, reducing them to 42-5 in just eight overs. Seamer Matthew Forde was the standout, claiming key wickets, including those of Ryan Rickelton (4) and captain Aiden Markram (14).

South Africa's innings was revived by Tristan Stubbs, who played a brilliant knock of 76 from 42 balls, featuring three towering sixes. He was ably supported by Patrick Kruger, who added 44 off 32 balls, enabling South Africa to post a respectable 174-7 in their 20 overs.

Heavy rain had delayed the start of play by over an hour, but once the match resumed, conditions improved significantly for batting.

The West Indies took full advantage, with openers Alick Athanaze (40) and Shai Hope (51) laying a solid foundation by putting on 84 runs for the first wicket. Athanaze was dismissed in the eighth over, caught behind by Markram off Ottneil Baartman.

Pooran then took center stage, dismantling the South African bowling attack with a ferocious display of power hitting, including smashing four consecutive sixes off Burger in the 12th over.

Despite losing Hope and captain Rovman Powell (7), the West Indies comfortably chased down the target with 13 balls to spare.

A bright spot for South Africa was the debut of left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka, who, at 18 years and 137 days, became the youngest player to represent his country in international cricket. Maphaka marked the occasion by claiming the wicket of Powell.