Johannesburg – A scintillating unbeaten cameo from all-rounder Romario Shepherd and an outstanding career-best five-wicket haul by fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, combined to fire West Indies to a seven-run victory and their first Twenty20 International series win over South Africa in nearly a decade here yesterday.
Stuttering on 161 for eight in the 16th over at the Wanderers, West Indies were bailed out by the 28-year-old Shepherd who belted two fours and three sixes in a brazen 22-ball 44 not out, the innings getting up to an impressive 220 for eight in the end.
The game was then in the balance with South Africa on 186 for three at the end of the 18th over courtesy of opener Reeza Hendricks’s 83 from 44 deliveries, before Joseph (5-40) removed the top-scorer – one of his three wickets in the penultimate over – as the hosts came up short.
For West Indies, the series win allowed them to salvage some joy from a tour which saw heavy defeats in the Test series and a drawn One-Day International rubber. (CMC)