KINGSTON: Roston Chase struck a magnificent 38-ball 67 as West Indies beat South Africa by 16 runs at Sabina Park to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
Chase led a strong batting performance from the home side who made 207-7 and while South Africa made a fast start they were unable to get close to the target. West Indies, who are co-hosts of the T20 World Cup which gets under way on June 1 in the United States, will face South Africa again on Sunday to conclude the series.
It was a strong all-round performance from the Caribbean team coached by Daren Sammy, who captained the West Indies to the T20 World Cup title in 2016. West Indies captain Brandon King won the toss and opted to bat and the skipper made a bright start scoring 36 off 22 balls.
Kyle Mayers was aggressive as he struck 32 off 16 balls, with three sixes before he went in the ninth over with the home side on 83-3. Both King and Mayers were dismissed by 21-year-old leg spinner Nqabayomzi Peter, who impressed in his debut for South Africa. But the damage was done with the 63-run partnership between Chase and Romario Shepherd.
Chase, playing some elegant strokes, hit seven fours and two sixes but was kept off the strike in the final over when Lungi Ngidi picked up two wickets and conceded just three runs. It was a tough day for medium-pacer Andile Phehlukwayo who ended with figures of 2-51 off his three overs.
South Africa made a lightning start to their reply, with openers Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock rattling up 81 in 4.5 overs before De Kock was bowled by slow left-armer Akeal Hosein having made 41 off just 17 balls.
West Indies won the toss
West Indies Innings 207/7
South Africa Innings
Hendricks b Chase 34
Quinton b Hosein 41
Rickelton c Mayers b Shepherd 19
Breetzke run out (Joseph/Fletcher) 12
Dussen (c) c Hosein b Motie 30
Phehlukwayo c Joseph b Motie 3
Mulder c Hosein b Motie 9
Fortuin not out 9
Nqabayomzi not out 10
Extras: (lb 8, nb 3, w 13) 24
Total: 20 Ov (RR: 9.55) 191/7
Fall of wickets: 1-81, 2-83, 3-113, 4-124, 5-138, 6-166, 7-167
Bowling: Kyle Mayers 1-0-9-0, Roston Chase 4-0-26-1, Obed McCoy 2-0-32-0, Shamar Joseph 1-0-21-0, Akeal Hosein 3-0-45-1, Gudakesh Motie 4-0-22-3, Romario Shepherd 4-0-23-1, Fabian Allen 1-0-5-0
Result: West Indies won by 16 runs
Player of the match: Roston Chase
Umpires: Joel Wilson, Nigel Duguid