McCoy and Charles thump South Africa to give West Indies series sweep

South Africa faces a challenging period ahead of the T20 World Cup, with significant concerns over the form of key players Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje. Recent performances have not been encouraging, as the team has only managed two victories in their last 11 completed T20I matches since the previous T20 World Cup. This includes losing series to both the West Indies and Australia.

West Indies 165 for 2 (Charles 69, King 44, Mayers 36*) beat South Africa 163 for 7 (van dur Dussen 51, McCoy 3-39, Motie 2-21, S Joseph 2-26) by eight wickets Quinton de Kock, a crucial player for South Africa, has been struggling with his form. In the recent T20I series against the West Indies, he scored just 64 runs across three innings. His difficulties have been evident in other tournaments as well, including the Big Bash League (BBL), the SA20, and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Additionally, he appears to have sustained a back injury, adding to the team's concerns.

While South Africa's powerhouse middle order comprising Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs was absent during this series, they are expected to return for the World Cup, potentially bolstering the team's batting strength. However, the inconsistent performance of de Kock and the overall poor run in recent matches underscore the challenges the team faces as they prepare for the global competition. The West Indies, in contrast, have shown strong form, exemplified by their commanding series sweep against South Africa. In the second T20I, Johnson Charles' explosive innings of 69 off 26 balls was a highlight, contributing significantly to their victory. The West Indies' convincing performance as they conclude their T20 World Cup preparations contrasts sharply with South Africa's struggles, setting up a potentially tough tournament for the latter. **Result:** West Indies won by 8 wickets (with 37 balls remaining). **Scores:** - **South Africa:** 163/7 in 20 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 51, Obed McCoy 3/39, Gudakesh Motie 2/21, Shamarh Joseph 2/26) - **West Indies:** 165/2 in 13.5 overs (Johnson Charles 69, Brandon King 44, Kyle Mayers 36*) ### Match Report In a dominant display, West Indies completed a 3-0 series sweep over South Africa in the final T20I in Kingston. Johnson Charles spearheaded the chase with a blistering 69 off 26 balls, showcasing powerful hitting that saw the hosts comfortably overhaul the target of 164 with 37 balls to spare. **Key Performances:** - **Johnson Charles:** His 69 included taking apart South Africa's premier pacers, Anrich Nortje and Gerald Coetzee, and provided a solid foundation for the chase. - **Brandon King:** Continued his good form with a steady 44, guiding the innings after Charles' departure. - **Kyle Mayers:** Finished the job with an unbeaten 36, ensuring there were no hiccups in the chase. **South Africa's Struggles:** - **Rassie van der Dussen:** The standout performer for South Africa with a composed 51, but lacked substantial support from other batters. - **Bowling Concerns:** Anrich Nortje's economy rate of 12.16 and lack of wickets highlighted South Africa's bowling woes. The absence of key middle-order batters like Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen was also felt. **West Indies' Bowling Highlights:** - **Obed McCoy:** Led the bowling attack with figures of 3/39, making crucial breakthroughs. - **Gudakesh Motie:** Continued his impressive form with 2/21, removing the dangerous Quinton de Kock and Matthew Breetzke. ### Player of the Match **Johnson Charles** was named the MVP for his explosive batting that set the tone for West Indies' comprehensive victory.

### Series Overview West Indies' clean sweep of South Africa serves as a strong statement ahead of the T20 World Cup. They have won four out of five series since the last T20 World Cup, positioning themselves as strong contenders. https://www.highcpmgate.com/hbhzxpu0?key=a59c49fc93a9570024bc3567697c65c4 **South Africa's Form:** With just two wins in their last 11 T20Is, South Africa's form is a concern going into the World Cup. The fitness and form of key players like Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje will be crucial for their prospects in the tournament. **Next Steps:** West Indies will face Australia in a warm-up match in Trinidad before starting their World Cup campaign in Guyana, while South Africa will need to regroup and address their issues before the global tournament. ### Van der Dussen's Statement Innings Excluded from South Africa's T20 World Cup squad but entrusted with the captaincy for this series, Rassie van der Dussen demonstrated his resilience and form with a crucial performance. After South Africa found themselves in a precarious position at 50 for 4, van der Dussen scored a rapid 30-ball fifty, eventually guiding his team to a total of 163 for 7. His innings was marked by powerful and precise hitting, particularly straight down the ground. Notably, all five of his sixes were struck in the V between long-off and long-on. His pivotal 77-run partnership with Wiaan Mulder for the fifth wicket was instrumental in salvaging South Africa's innings from a potential collapse, providing a competitive edge to their total. ### Mayers Misses, and Then He Doesn't Van der Dussen's innings could have ended prematurely at 9 runs when he mishit a delivery from Hayden Walsh Jnr towards long-on, where Kyle Mayers was positioned. Mayers caught the ball cleanly but, misjudging his proximity to the boundary, stepped over the rope with the ball in hand, thus conceding six runs. Van der Dussen was quick to acknowledge this, signaling that he had earned a six. Later, in the field, Mayers redeemed himself. Mulder mishit a slower ball from McCoy to long-on, and this time, Mayers executed a clean two-handed catch, ensuring he had ample space to tumble safely without conceding a boundary. With the bat, Mayers was just as effective, hitting four sixes in an unbeaten 36-run innings, which helped to finalize the chase after Johnson Charles had set the groundwork. Despite his impactful performances, Mayers remains a reserve player for the West Indies T20 World Cup squad.