West Indies sweep T20I series with dominant win over South Africa

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The West Indies achieved a clean 3-0 sweep in their T20I series against South Africa with a commanding eight-wicket victory at Sabina Park on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 164, the Caribbean team reached the total with 6.1 overs remaining, losing only two wickets in the process.

Openers Brandon King and Johnson Charles laid a solid foundation, scoring 92 runs in just 6.4 overs. Charles was particularly aggressive, smashing 69 runs off 26 balls, including five sixes and a total of 14 boundaries.

After his dismissal, Kyle Mayers continued the aggressive approach. When stand-in captain King was out for 44 off 28 balls, the West Indies were already comfortably positioned at 130-2 with 9.1 overs left.

Mayers remained unbeaten on 36, ensuring the West Indies entered the T20 World Cup, which they will co-host with the United States, with high confidence.

Reflecting on the performance, King expressed satisfaction but noted he wished he could have finished the match himself. He highlighted the importance of the 3-0 victory as crucial preparation for the World Cup, praising the consistency of their bowling attack, particularly Gudakesh Motie.

"Happy with my own performance," King said. "I would've liked to carry my bat through the end though. It was an important 3-0 win, last series before the World Cup, so important preparation and good momentum going into the World Cup.

"Our bowling performances were very pleasing, we had consistency throughout," King added. "Gudakesh Motie and other different contributors. Speaks well that a lot of our main players are missing. I can't wait to meet with the other boys before the World Cup."

The West Indies squad for the tournament will feature several players who missed this series such as skipper Rovman Powell and Andre Russell.

South Africa, led by stand-in captain Rassie van der Dussen, managed to set a respectable target largely due to van der Dussen’s explosive innings, which included five sixes.

His 77-run partnership with Wiaan Mulder in 8.1 overs was pivotal. Despite this, the South African bowlers struggled to contain the West Indian batsmen.

Obed McCoy, who replaced the injured Jason Holder in the World Cup squad, impressed with figures of 3-39 in his four overs, while Shamar Joseph and Motie also contributed with two wickets each.

Van der Dussen was candid in his assessment of the series, expressing deep disappointment. He acknowledged that South Africa failed to adapt and deliver throughout the series, especially struggling against the West Indies’ batting and bowling prowess.

"Thoroughly disappointing. Not what we had in mind coming here," Dussen said. "From the first game they were all over us. We couldn't adapt, and today we couldn't find answers with the ball. Not happy with that.

"The chat coming into today was that you can chat all you want but have to deliver in the middle. We couldn't do that today. Time for talking is done, we'll need our experienced people coming in to take more responsibility. There's no excuse," he added.

"We were caught off guard how they played with the bat and they were better with the ball as simple as that. We were taught a few lessons."