South Africa scripted a record run-chase in T20Is to level the series against West Indies in Centurion on Sunday.
After conceding 258 with the ball, South Africa produced a stirring run-chase, led by a maiden T20I ton from Quinton de Kock, to record the highest-ever run-chase in T20Is.
Racking up 102 in the first six overs in the run-chase, the highest score by any team in the Powerplay in T20Is, de Kock and Reeza Hendricks kickstarted South Africa’s innings in style.
The opening stand of 152 came off just 10.5 overs as South Africa suddenly turned into favourites to win the game.
While the visitors made a comeback of sorts by dismissing Rossouw, Hendricks and Miller in fairly quick succession, skipper Aiden Markram continued the carnage to lead his side to a memorable win.
The previous record for the highest successful run-chase in T20Is was held by Bulgaria against Serbia in 2022, when the former chased down 243 in 19.4 overs.
During the match, Johnson Charles smashed a 39-ball century as the West Indies went on a record-breaking six-hitting rampage.
The powerfully-built Charles made 118 off 46 balls as the West Indies raced to 258 for five, their highest ever in T20 cricket and the joint sixth-highest in T20 internationals.
Charles’ century was the fastest for the West Indies and the equal fourth-fastest in the format. He hit 11 sixes and 10 fours in his 118.
After being sent in, West Indies clubbed 22 sixes as the Centurion ground lived up to its reputation as a high-scoring venue with its true pitch, fast outfield, and boundaries that proved too short for the power hitters in the thin air of the South African Highveld.
Kyle Mayers hit four sixes in making 51. He shared a second-wicket stand of 135 off 58 balls with Charles after Brandon King fell to the third ball of the match.
Romario Shepherd struck another four sixes towards the end as he plundered 41 not out from just 18 balls.
Four South African bowlers conceded 20 or more runs in an over. Marco Jansen was one of them but the tall left-armer picked up three wickets for 52 runs, including Charles, who was forced into a rare defensive shot by a yorker that ricocheted from his pad onto his pad and into the stumps.—AFP
