West Indies beats SA at home to win T20 series (2-1)
Aiden Markram said that South Africa’s batting wasn’t up to the mark in the third and final T20I against Rovman Powell’s West Indies. On Tuesday, March 29, the Proteas lost to the Caribbean team by seven runs at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg and conceded the series 1-2.
After being asked to chase down 221, South Africa were restricted to 213 for six. Reeza Hendricks scored 83 runs off 44 balls, but his knock went in vain.
Markram, however, had words of praise for his team’s bowlers after their comeback following the second T20I at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The Proteas won the second game after chasing down 259.
“It was a good game in the end for the neutral watcher. We let ourselves down with the bat a little. We fell a few runs short at the end of it. Have to give the bowlers credit for the way they responded after Sunday,” Markram said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
On Tuesday, West Indies scored 43 runs off their last two overs courtesy of Romario Shepherd and Alzarri Joseph. Shepherd gave his team’s innings a finishing kick after scoring 26 runs off the final over.
“There was a stage where we would have wanted to wrap it up for 160-170. Barring the last three overs, we were really good. Anything under 200 was the goal. 220 was perhaps par. To lose is not great but we are on the right path and good to see the boys respond in each game,” he stated.
On his maiden series as South Africa’s T20I skipper, Markram said, “It was thoroughly enjoyable. Challenging at times but the team is on a journey and it is a good sign to see the boys responding game after game.”
