Narine, Pollard Stars in West Indies Victory Over South Africa
With Sunil Narine carrer best figure 6/27, West Indies started their campaign with a positive note in the Ballr Cup Tri-Nation Series 2016 against South Africa at the Providence Stadium Guyana. After returning in West Indies colours, Sunile Narine and Kieron Pollard helped West Indies to win the opening match of the Triangular Series. West Indies outplayed South Africa in all the departments of the game.
After winning the toss, South African skipper AB de Villiers opted to bat first on a slow and low Guyana strip. The pair Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla provided South Africa with a solid start up front as they put on 52 runs for the first wicketn the partnership could not go further as the hero of the WT20 final Carlos Brathwaite struck in his 2nd over and got rid of the dangerous looking de Kock on 30. In the next over, Amla was also trapped by Narine in front of the wicket. After losing both the openers in the space of just 3 balls, skipper AB de Villiers and Rilee Rossouw try to consolidate and added 78 runs for the 3rd wicket partnership and rebuilt the South African innings. One can imagine the condition of the pitch as AB de Villiers who is one of the most brutal batsman in the world scored 31 runs in 49 balls without hitting a single boundary and got out after checking his shot in the last moment against Jerome Taylor, it was very much a soft dismissal. On the other side, Rilee Rossouw who was looking uncomfortable on this slow deck against all the West Indian bowler, slowly and steadily managed to score his 5th half century in ODI Cricket. Once Rilee Rossouw was dissmissed by Narine at the score of 61 off 83 balls, it triggered a mini-collapse in the South African innings as they got bowled out on 188 in 46.5 overs. Narine was the man did the bulk of damage with his best figure in One Day International Cricket (9.5-0-27-6)
West Indies started off their chase in an aggressive mode as their opener Johnson Charles hit two boundaries in the very first over of Kyle Abbott. But this was not sufficient for the hosts as they were left reeling at 53/3. After the arrival of Kieron Pollard match tilted towards West Indies favour. Pollard smashed most of the proteas bowlers all around the park as if he was playing on a different track . Pollard was looking in hurry as he hit three sixes in his first five deliveries which he faced. Pollard was well supported by Darren Bravo, who made 30 off 69 balls played his role rather well on a difficult Guyana deck. In the last phase of West Indian innings, South Africa managed to take some wickets in quick succession but this was never going to be enough for them as they had posted only 188 on the board. Eventually West Indies won the first match of the Tri-Nation Series by 4 wickets and the two come back man shine in their victory. Sunil Narine was adjudged Man of the match for his supreme spell of (9.5-0-27-6)
Match Summary :-
South Africa 188 in 46.5 Overs (Rossouw 61 off 83 balls, AB de Villiers 31 off 49 balls; Sunil Narine 6/27, Carlos Brathwaite 2/35)
West Indies 191/6 in 48.1 Overs (Kieron Pollard 67 off 67 balls, Darren Bravo 30 off 69 balls; Aaron Phangiso 3/40, Imran Tahir 2/41)