JOHANNESBURG: Shimron Hetmyer smashed an unbeaten 48 in 22 balls to help West Indies to a six-run victory over hosts South Africa in a Twenty20 International reduced to 10 overs per side here at the Wanderers on Saturday.
South Africa had already wrapped up the three-match series going into the final fixture on Saturday, when the threat of lightning on the Highveld shortened the contest.
South Africa won the toss and sent the tourists into bat for the third time in the series, with Hetmyer and opener Shai Hope (48 from 25 balls) helping the West Indies to 114 for three in their 10 overs.
The target for the home side was adjusted to 125 via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, but the West Indies applied early pressure through their spinners.
Akeal Hosein (1-25) and Gudakesh Motie (3-17) put the home side on the back foot and as the rate grew, they lost wickets at regular intervals.
South Africa needed 16 off the last over from Shamar Joseph, who bowled a succession of yorkers to close out the game for the visitors.
Both countries now head to the T20 World Cup where the West Indies start against Scotland on Feb 7, while South Africa’s first match is against Canada on Feb 9.
South African skipper Aiden Markram said that the frantic nature of Saturday’s match had been “a really good exercise for us” with players being put under pressure and several of them responding well.
After the match, West Indian captain Shai Hope said his team were “ticking more boxes” after winning the third T20 International against South Africa.
“It’s very challenging when you are stopping and starting,” said Hope. “It’s more challenging batting first. I’m very happy with the strides we’re making. It’s good to see Shimron batting well and the bowlers are hitting their straps.”
He said there had been “a lot of good signs for us” after South Africa won the first two matches convincingly.“I think we’ve got all bases covered,” he said.
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES:
S. Hope c Bosch b Maharaj 48
J. Charles c Smith b Ngidi 0
S. Hetmyer not out 48
R. Powell c Brevis b Maphaka 13
R. Shepherd not out 3
EXTRAS (LB-2) 2
TOTAL (for three wickets, 10 overs) 114
DID NOT BAT: R. Chase, M. Forde, J. Holder, S. Joseph, G. Motie, A. Hosein
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-5 (Charles), 2-91 (Hope), 3-104 (Powell)
BOWLING: Ngidi 2-0-19-1, Linde 2-0-9-0, Maharaj 2-0-38-1, Markram 1-0-18-0, Bosch 2-0-16-0, Maphaka 1-0-12-1
SOUTH AFRICA:
A. Markram c&b Hosein 2
Q. de Kock c Powell b Motie 28
D. Brevis c Holder b Motie 17
R. Rickelton c Holder b Motie 15
G. Linde c Chase b Holder 17
J. Smith b Joseph 26
T. Stubbs not out 10
C. Bosch not out 2
EXTRAS (NB-1) 1
TOTAL (for six wickets, 10 overs) 118
DID NOT BAT: K. Maharaj, K. Maphaka, L. Ngidi
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-23 (Markram), 2-34 (de Kock), 3-62 (Rickelton), 4-63 (Brevis), 5-100 (Linde), 6-116 (Smith)
BOWLING: Holder 2-0-30-1, Hosein 2-0-25-1 (1nb), Chase 2-0-23-0, Motie 2-0-17-3, Joseph 2-0-23-1
RESULT: West Indies won by six runs (DLS).
PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Gudakesh Motie
SERIES: South Africa won the series 2-1.
PLAYER-OF-THE-SERIES: Quinton de Kock
Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2026