Tri-Series 2016, 1st ODI Review: Windies draw first blood

The West Indies began the much awaited Tri-Series 2016 with a hard-fought 4-wicket win over South Africa in what was a low-scoring affair in Providence in Guyana. Ironically, it was two of their returning players in the form of Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine who came up with the goods to ensure a win for their side. Rilee Rossouw also played a magical knock, only for his side to be robbed of a win in the dying stages of the match.

South Africa skipper AB de Villiers called the toss and opted to bat first. The Proteas began their innings in earnest with both Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock finding their touch. The latter, in particular, was severe on the feeble bowling attack as he dispatched Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor to the off-side fence on multiple occasions. The duo added yet another half-century stand as they seemed destined to reach a solid total.

The first wicket was claimed by Carlos Brathwaite as the latter breached the defenses of Quinton de Kock. The Proteas were thrust into a crisis when Sunil Narine trapped Hashim Amla barely a few deliveries after de Kock’s demise as Rilee Rossouw was joined by skipper AB de Villiers. The duo began on a cautious note, playing at each delivery with the respect it deserved. It took another 20 overs for the duo to add another 80 odd runs as the Guyana wicket began to show its true colors.

AB de Villiers fell in the 31^st over to cricket’s riskiest shot as he tossed the ball straight back to Jerome Taylor. The ball stuck in the outstretched palm of Taylor as de Villiers was the third casualty. Rilee Rossouw was the next to depart as Narine successfully found the outside edge of the southpaw as he departed for a well-made 61.

JP Duminy went on to play a gem of an innings before his leg-stump bail was clipped off by the irresistible Jason Holder. What followed was quintessentially the Sunil Narine show. The ‘mystery spinner’ added to his tally of two wickets as he snapped up Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, and Imran Tahir to complete a 6-wicket haul. Needless to say, the Proteas were blasted out for a paltry 188 in just 45 odd overs.

In what was an ironic similarity to the South African innings, Johnson Charles, and Andre Fletcher began the West Indies innings well. They weathered the storm well, fending off the pacers Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada. However, AB de Villiers’ introduction of Imran Tahir proved to be the kryptonite of sorts as both Fletcher and Charles were removed by the leggie in quick succession.

The spinners of South Africa began to leave their mark as Aaron Phangiso quickly snapped up Marlon Samuels. JP Duminy’s off-spin removed Denesh Ramdin as the Windies were in trouble at 76-4. Darren Bravo played a useful hand with 30 off 69 deliveries, keeping the home team with a winning chance of victory. However, he fell with the score at 150, departing at a time when the match was on a knife-edge.

With Carlos Brathwaite also gone, the onus fell on Kieron Pollard and Jason Holder. The 29-year old Pollard failed to disappoint as he began to take the Proteas bowlers apart. He smashed two massive sixes as well as a plethora of boundaries in his wonderful compilation of a run-a-ball 67. He remained unbeaten as the Windes coasted to victory with 11 deliveries to spare. Sunil Narine was awarded the man of the match award for his performance with the ball that saw him conclude with figures of 6-27.

StAttack

1. This was the first time South Africa and West Indies were meeting at Guyana. Better yet, this was the first ever ODI played since 2013.

2. The West Indies have now won four of their last five matches at Providence.

3. Sunil Narine has the second best figures in this venue (6/27). He is behind Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi (7/12)

Brief Scores

South Africa 188 all out in 46.5 overs (Rossouw 61; Narine 6/27)

West Indies 191/6 in 48.1 overs (Pollard 67*; Phangiso 3/40)