WICKETKEEPER MORNE VAN WYK stroked a maiden T20 cricket century as South Africa defeated West Indies by 69 runs today to avoid a whitewash at Durban.
South Africa reached 195 for three off their 20 overs, while West Indies were all out for 126 with an over to spare.
van Wyk scored 114 not out off 70 balls. With nine fours and seven sixes, in his knock, van Wyk was partial to the off side, where he picked up 68 of those runs.
He featured in a 111-run partnership with fellow opener Reeza Hendricks who scored 42 off 32 balls.
Sheldon Cottrell, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pillard took one wicket each.
West Indies lost their first wicket at 48 when Dwayne Smith fell and lost them steadily after.
Lendl Simmons, who replaced a resting Chris Gayle scored 49, but none of the other batsmen troubled the bowling.
David Wiese then added insult to the defeat, taking five for 23. Marchant de Lange and Wayne Parnell also took two wickets.
Commenting on the match afterward from the studio, West Indies’ chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd said the approach was not professional and the players seemed to have taken their “foot off the pedal”.
Lloyd said the fielding wasn’t good, with at least four dropped catches and the bowlers were two short, giving South Africa an early platform to score runs.
West Indies won the T20 series 2-1 and the action shifts to the One-Day format of the game. The two teams will play five matches. (SAT)
Summarised scores:
South Africa 195-3 in 20 overs (Morne van Wyk 114 n.o., Reeza Hendricks 42). West Indies 126 in 19 overs (Lendl Simmons 49, Kieron Pollard 20, Dwayne Bravo 12, Andre Russell 12; David Wiese 5-23, Marchant de Lange 2-26, Wayne Parbell 2-33). South Africa won by 69 runs.
