South Africa Vs West Indies Highlights, 1st T20I: Aiden Markram Unbeaten 84 Helps Proteas Claim Convincing 9-Wicket Win

Good evening, cricket fans! This is the start of our live blog covering the first T20I match of West Indies' tour of South Africa. Stay tuned for pre-match and toss updates as they take place.

A slow pitch, 31 degrees Celsius and no rain in Paarl on Tuesday. Swing, 29 degrees and an afternoon thunderstorm in Centurion on Thursday. Bounce, 30 degrees but no rain in Johannesburg on Saturday.

South Africa: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ryan Rickelton(w), Dewald Brevis, Aiden Markram(c), Jason Smith, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Eathan Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka

West Indies: Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Shai Hope(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Quentin Sampson, Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph

South Africa have won the toss and have opted to field.

West Indies: Brandon King, Johnson Charles(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase(c), Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales

South Africa: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Aiden Markram(c), Ryan Rickelton(w), Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka

All set to begin, Brandon King on strike with Johnson Charles at the non-striker’s end. Kagiso Rabada has the new ball in hand, ready to kick off the first innings with pace and bounce.

Bright start for West Indies! King wastes no time, cracking back-to-back boundaries to get the innings rolling, showing positive intent against the new ball. Charles gets off the mark as they rotate strike, keeping the pressure on early. Ten runs from the opening over and WI move to 10/0, with King already looking fluent.

Maharaj strikes to break the stand! He fires in a quicker slider and Charles goes for the sweep but misses completely, the ball skids on to rattle middle and off. Big breakthrough just as West Indies were scoring freely. Forde is the new batter and safely blocks out the last ball. WI 39/1 after 4 overs, King set on 23.

Bosch makes the breakthrough! He angles one in from wide of the crease and King tries to slog across the line, only to drag it back onto his stumps for 27 off 16. Big wicket as both openers are now gone. Rutherford gets going with a crisp boundary through cover and then gloves a sharp bumper for a single, but Bosch keeps it lively, beating Forde with extra bounce to end the over. WI 48/2 after 5 overs.

Maharaj strikes again in the powerplay! Rutherford is beaten by drift and spin, the ball sneaking off the inside edge onto the stumps as he plays from the crease. That’s his second wicket. Chase gets off the mark with a quick single, but Forde has the final say, charging down and lofting Maharaj straight back over his head for a clean six. WI 57/3 after 6 overs, momentum mixed but wickets hurting them.

West Indies lose their fourth wicket in the form of Matthew Forde, who was dismissed for 16 by Corbin Bosche. Shimron Hetmyer (5*) has joined skipper Roston Chase (17*) to take things forward. WI have a deep batting order that gives them the freedom to keep playing hard despite losing four wickets.

West Indies are five wickets down with skipper Roston Chase being the last batter to depart off George Linde. But despite losing half their side, WI are batting with a healthy run-rate of almost 9 runs per over with the attacking duo of Shimron Hetmyer (36*) and Rovman Powell (12*) on crease.

Windies keep the momentum ticking in the death overs. A wide starts the over before Hetmyer unleashes a clean six, continuing his aggressive intent. Powell rotates strike smartly while the bowlers pull things back with a couple of dot balls in between. Still, 10 runs come off it and WI move to 150/5 after 17, with Hetmyer 39 (26) and Powell 19 (16) setting up a strong finish.

Big over for West Indies as they keep the late charge going. Powell clears the ropes with a clean six and both batters keep the board ticking with smart singles. A wide adds to the pressure before Hetmyer finds the boundary again, threading one to the fence to move closer to a fifty. Fourteen runs come from it as WI surge to 168/5 after 19, with Hetmyer 48 (31) and Powell 27 (23) setting up a strong finish.

Linde nails the final over to stall the finish. He removes Holder, who mistimes a big hit and holes out to Bosch at long-off, and keeps it tight otherwise with just singles and a wide. Shepherd scrambles one off a mis-hit, but the damage is limited, only five runs and a wicket. West Indies close on 173/7, with Powell unbeaten on 29, but South Africa will feel they pulled things back superbly at the death.

Innings Break.

All set for the chase, Lhuan-dre Pretorius on strike with Markram at the other end. Matthew Forde has the new ball, ready to get things underway.

Positive start for South Africa! Markram takes charge early, cracking three crisp boundaries in the over and looking in sublime touch from the outset. Pretorius rotates strike to get him back on strike, and the Proteas race to 13/0 after the first over, with Markram already 12 off 5.

Steady, confident start from South Africa. They’re not going hell for leather, but the openers look in control, picking off the bad balls and rotating strike smartly. Pretorius finds a boundary to keep the tempo healthy, while Markram continues to look composed and fluent. Five from the over takes them to 39/0, a solid platform laid with wickets in hand and both batters set.

Breakthrough for West Indies just as the stand was building. Chase floats it up slower and full, Pretorius goes for the slog sweep but doesn’t get hold of it, flat to deep mid-wicket where Forde takes a neat low catch. He departs for a brisk 44 off 28. Rickelton is the new man and defends first ball as South Africa move to 83/1 after 8 overs, Markram still cruising on 36.

Classy knock from Markram! He punches Hosein wide of long-off for two to bring up a fluent half-century off 28 balls, raising his bat after a controlled yet attacking innings. The over began with a big six and steady rotation followed, keeping the pressure on the bowlers. South Africa move smoothly to 107/1 after 11 overs, with Markram leading the chase beautifully.

South Africa keep the chase firmly in their control with another productive over. Markram leads the charge, launching a clean six and then rotating strike smartly, while Rickelton supports well with quick running between the wickets. The twos keep coming, putting pressure back on the fielders. Fourteen from the over and the Proteas move to 145/1, with Markram cruising on 63 and Rickelton settling nicely on 34.

South Africa keep things calm and in control. No big shots this over, but smart strike rotation and a couple pushed into the gaps keep the scoreboard moving. Markram continues to anchor the chase with composure, while Rickelton supports steadily at the other end. Six from the over takes SA to 162/1 after 17, needing just a controlled finish from here.

That’ll do it! Markram swivels and pulls Holder through the gap at mid-wicket for four, sealing the chase in style. A commanding finish as South Africa win by 9 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the series, with the captain leading from the front.

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