Gayle made a steady 43 from 35 deliveries, and along with KL Rahul, who added 60 from 52, anchored Kings XI to an 8-wicket win.
The batsman’s innings was, however, uncharacteristically devoid of massive slogs over the boundary as he hit only two sixes. The 41-year-old did gather quite a few runs darting for quick singles, which has not been a part of his game in recent years.
The veteran batsman had come under criticism in recent days following a string of low scores and a 1-3 start for Punjab. Gayle, however, insists he is feeling in excellent shape and was happy for the result.
"I am feeling very good, a bit relieved. We wanted this win badly, playing against the defending champions was always going to be tough. They played four games, to actually get this win is fantastic for the team and the Universe Boss as well.
“I was looking pretty good, running between the wickets, I am feeling fit and good about myself. I am enjoying it, I am looking after my body, getting a lot of massages so I can move freely, humidity here in Chennai also kind of lets the blood flow so I am on top of my game," Gayle told the official IPL website.
Sporting entities across the globe continue to battle the economic fallout from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the spread of the virus bringing a halt to almost all international sport. In cricket, specifically, the massive disparity between the previous earnings of the ‘big three,’ England, India and Australia and the rest of the smaller nations leaves them even more vulnerable to financial devastation.
The issue of economic disparity was one that was broached by the Cameron-led CWI administration two years ago in a paper to the ICC termed the ‘Economics of Cricket’. The revenue-sharing model had been adjusted in 2017, but Cameron believed it still fell well short of a truly equitable system. The former president believes the coronavirus emergency that has greatly exacerbated the situation, shows the dangers of the current model.
"With the current COVID-19 pandemic wreaking financial havoc, the less wealthy cricket boards like West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Zimbabwe will suffer more if they don't stand up,” Cameron said in an interview with the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.
"The gap between wealthier and less wealthy cricket nations is widening and will contribute to less wealthy nations being less competitive and the devaluing the international cricket product. The gap immediately expedites the flight of talent away from bilateral international cricket as the less wealthy cricket nations are disadvantaged in funding their professional domestic and national retainer contracts.
"Given the current situation with the COVID-19, the gap will widen further as the less wealthy cricket nations won't be able to sustain investment in cricket and player development, infrastructure and administration," said Cameron.
Joseph posted brilliant figures of 5-33 on day one in Guyana as South Africa were skittled for just 160 on Thursday.
However, the Proteas ended the day with the upper hand as Wiaan Mulder responded with figures of 4-18 to help reduce the Windies to 97-7 by stumps.
Joseph, though, is convinced the hosts will recover to win the Test and the two-match series, which remains perfectly poised following a draw in Trinidad and Tobago last week.
"It's a great feeling to have done this at home," Joseph said of his five-wicket haul.
"I haven't really played much here at Providence but I always go in with a clear plan to do what the team needed, and I am glad I was able to deliver today.
"There's no place like home and playing in front of your home crowd is just the best feeling that could ever happen to anyone playing international cricket.
"Coming back home, the support was great and I'm glad I was able to go out and do my best. We want to win this Test match so badly and I know we will win it."
South Africa bowler Mulder, meanwhile, said he had watched Joseph's outing closely and looked to replicate it when stepping up to remove Kraigg Brathwaite, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge and Joshua Da Silva through his six overs with the ball.
"I didn't bowl at my best but I had a lot going for me today," Mulder said. "I just tried to replicate what Shamar did earlier in the day by bowling a length which made it difficult for the batters to score.
"He's obviously quicker than I am but the pitch also helped my style of bowling so I was able to capitalise."
According to reports, Theophile suffered a fractured skull and spent the last few days being treated at the Intensive Care Unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital after being involved in a collision on Christmas Day. The player was listed in stable condition before being airlifted to Martinique.
Reports indicate that Theophile was involved in a motorcycle accident in the vicinity of the Roseau Post Office in the capital city Roseau.
The opening batsman has captained the Volcanoes for a few seasons at the regional level and played a total of 68 first-class matches. He has scored 3,055 runs at an average of 25.88. He has also taken 18 wickets at 34 runs apiece with his off-spin. Theophile has been one of the island’s best cricketers for a number of seasons. He was a part of the team that won the regional Super50 title in 2017, the fourth time the islands were claiming the title.
According to Benjamin, Joseph has been underutilized by the skipper, making it difficult for him to develop a rhythm and perform at his best.
“It’s not because I’ve worked with this young man, but I think Alzarri has been handled poorly by the captain from day one, not just this series, and just look at how he is being used. Here it is that you have a youngster with raw talent and we don’t have a lot of bowlers with raw talent, but how do you get experience, isn’t it by doing what you have to do?” said Benjamin during an airing of the ‘Good Morning Jojo Sports Show’.
Benjamin also suggested Holder has an issue with Joseph and may not think he is as good as people are purporting.
“If you’re not happy with an individual and you think there is too much talk about this individual and don’t think he’s as good and you want to prove a point, then you give him short spells, bowl him with the old ball when things are tight and critical so he never has a break,” said Benjamin
Benjamin went on to point out that Holder has a responsibility that comes with being captain that, if not managed properly, could be harmful.
“The captain has the ability to make or break a bowler. The time that you give him the ball to bowl, the confidence that you place in him will determine the frame of mind and if you are going to give me two overs and take me off every minute, the first thing I am going to say is that you don’t have any confidence in me so my whole demeanour is now going to change,” said Benjamin.
Benjamin, the mentor of Joseph, was speaking after the first two Tests in the three-match #raisethebat Series currently ongoing in England.
In that first Test, Joseph bowled a total of 31 overs to end with match figures of 2-98, while in the second Test he bowled even less, accounting for 25.1 overs for a match-haul of 1-84. Joseph was dropped in favour of spinner Rahkeem Cornwall for the Third Test which heads into day three on Sunday.
According to Benjamin, there is a certain selfishness in the way Holder rotates his bowlers.
“Now, what I have observed with our captain is that he doesn’t bowl unless things are happening and once things are happening the ball belongs to him and he’s not relinquishing that but as soon as you hit a little rough patch, you go and work this ball for me and as soon as things start happening he comes back in and cleans up. I have seen those things, I’ve been part of those situations many times. I’ve gone through that myself,” he said.
What Joseph needs now, more than anything else, Benjamin went on to explain, is experience.
According to the former fast bowler, who took 61 wickets in 21 Tests for the West Indies, that experience can only be had if the captain allows it.
“You can’t learn experience; you learn skill, you develop skill, but experience is you participating in whatever it is in order to gain the experience.”
The West Indies and England are locked at a game apiece in their three-Test series with England dominating the third.
England, sent into bat scored 369 and after two days of cricket, have the West Indies in a spot of bother, six wickets down for 137.
Waynmattie ‘Dataley’ Permaul, Veerasammy’s mother, had been missing for seven days when her son made the report of such to the Guyanese authorities on Thursday, April 28. Upon searching her Berbice home, her body was found lifeless in a shallow grave. She was 52 years old.
WIPA President and CEO, Wavell Hinds expressed, “The WIPA family extends condolences to Veerasammy Permaul and his family during this stressful time. We regret the untimely passing of his mother and hope he will find the strength and courage to continue his lifelong journey. May her soul rest in peace and light perpetually shine upon her.”
The West Indies lead the series 2-1 with the final two matches scheduled to be played on Saturday and Sunday.
Wayne Lewis, Honorary Secretary at WIPA confirmed to Sportsmax.TV today that WIPA received an email from CWI’s Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams Thursday afternoon informing of the delay to the discussions surrounding the issue that, according to sources, has caused discord within the senior team. He expects the meeting to be held sometime next week.
The matter surfaced earlier this week when allegations were being made that Jamaican all-rounder was being victimized by the team leadership and was eventually dropped for the third match played on Wednesday that the West Indies won by 20 runs. Smith’s replacement Rovman Powell scored his maiden T20 hundred for the West Indies.
Afterwards, Coach Phil Simmons pushed back on assertions that Smith was being victimized. The burly allrounder conceded four runs in the one over he bowled in the second T20 and dropped for the next match. He has also scored useful runs batting at number 10 but according to Phil Simmons, players are selected in the best interest of the team.
“We need to stop this foolishness that we are going on with. We sit here and look at the best team for the day and if Odean was not in the best team for the day it was because we thought Rovman Powell was better suited,” Simmons said afterwards while speaking with the media.
Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies has described the claims as being unsubstantiated and mischievous as it moved to head off any fallout.
In a statement released late Thursday, CWI said it was aware that “voice notes were circulated on social media, and in sections of the regional broadcast media, suggesting that there is a rift within the West Indies Senior Men’s team.
“Contrary to the unsubstantiated statements, containing unfounded and mischievous allegations, CWI is satisfied that there is no discord between the team captain and any member of the West Indies team.”
CWI President Ricky Skerritt indicated that the rumours represent an unwarranted attack on Captain Kieron Pollard.
“I view this as a malicious attack on the credibility of the West Indies captain, designed to sow division within our team that has just recorded three very impressive T20I performances against very strong opponents, including two outstanding wins and one heroic comeback to get within one run of victory,” Skerritt said.
“This clear attempt by well-known mischief makers to discredit the captain and to derail the team’s momentum in the ongoing Betway T20I Series should not be tolerated or encouraged.”
With the countdown already begun towards the start of the marquee event in the UAE, Skerritt has asked the fanbase and all stakeholders to help create a winning West Indian spirit of passion and unity, in the face of a global battle. The West Indies team is going in pursuit of an unprecedented third ICC T20 World title.
“The selectors have produced a fit-for-purpose squad, which is a rich mixture of experienced leadership, proven match-winners, and youthful talent. For the first time in years, the selectors had good options within a growing pool of exciting West Indian talent," the CWI President said.
"But this is a major world tournament, not a development tour. All the best teams in the world will be setting out to dethrone the West Indies as defending champions. And just coping with the discomfort of an ongoing COVID-19 bubble will be tough enough for the players. So the mental toughness of our team will be stiffly tested both on and off the field. That is at least one good reason why they deserve our support. If you are a West Indian fan, then this is your team no matter which territory the players hail from.”
According to the CWI President, a successful World Cup journey requires "all of us who love and support the game and who have seriously studied the fortunes of West Indies cricket, come together and send positive vibes to Captain Pollard and the members of his squad, no matter what.”
The last time the T20I tournament was staged in 2016, West Indies beat England in spectacular fashion at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, to capture their second title. The first T20 World Cup victory came in 2012 when they beat Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. West indies have also reached the semi-finals on two occasions – in 2009 in England and 2014 in Bangladesh.
Head Coach Phil Simmons will be looking to make it back-to-back titles as he was the mastermind behind the title to success in 2016. Captain Kieron Pollard will also be looking for a second world title as he was an influential member of the squad which won in 2012.
West Indies have shown encouraging form this year in the build-up to the tournament. They contested four CG Insurance T20I home series against Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan. They played 17 matches – won 8, lost 6, with three “no results” due to bad weather.
The squad is due to assemble in the UAE in early October, where they will have a training camp before finetuning the final preparations, including warm-up matches against Pakistan and India.
West Indies have been drawn in Group 1 and will play five group games against England, South Africa and Australia along with the winner of Round 1 Group A (Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Namibia) and the runner-up from Round 1 Group B (Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, and Oman). West Indies’ first group game will be against England in Dubai on October 23.
Joe Root and Harry Brook had an unbroken partnership of 108 late on Saturday as England closed at 248-3, after Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett had shared another century partnership.
Having started their second innings 41 runs adrift, England now have a chance to build a big lead on day four, as they attempt to go 2-0 up in the series.
Speaking at the close of play, all-rounder Woakes said: "I never like to say we're in front in a Test, because half an hour can go against us and we're behind the game again.
"The fourth morning will be huge. If that partnership is extended to 150 or 200 then we're taking the game away. If West Indies take quick wickets they will feel ahead again.
"We have to kick on again on Sunday to take the game away from West Indies. Naturally, we want as many runs as possible and there's still two days to play.
"We want to be bowling at them as much as possible on day five, when the pitch could wear a little.
"Sunday is a big day for us, to build the lead up to 250 and 300, then hopefully we can make it really big."
Woakes managed three wickets in a 10-over spell in the Windies' first innings on Saturday as the tourists were bowled out for 386, finishing with figures of 4-84.
Opener Alick Athanaze with a 60-ball 32, was the only batsman to offer any real resistance as West Indies were embarrassingly bowled out for 86 in 24.1 overs, their fifth lowest ODI score. Only Keacy Carty (12) and Roston Chase (10) were the other double figure scores in the dismal innings.
Still, Australia, playing their 1,000th ODI, the second nation to do so after India, were almost flawless following comprehensive victories in Melbourne and Sydney.
Xavier Bartlett, like he did in the first contest, again starred with the ball, as he ended with four wickets for 21 runs, after which openers Josh Inglish and Jake Fraser-McGurk raced toward the low target by smashing 67 runs within five overs, and laid the foundation for the hosts to complete their eight-wicket victory with 43.1 overs to spare in what was the shortest men's ODI ever played in Australia.
The match lasted just 31 overs and was completed in three hours, including the innings break.
Australia 87 for 2 (Fraser-McGurk 41, Inglis 35*) beat West Indies 86 (Bartlett 4-21) by eight wickets
Inglis raced to 22 off seven deliveries, as he played gorgeous orthodox shots, but was quickly overtaken by Fraser-McGurk, who muscled three sixes in four balls off seamer Matthew Forde.
Fraser-McGurk was on track for a rapid half-century, but holed out to mid-on to end his 18-ball 41 and dashed Australia's hopes for a 10-wicket win.
Aaron Hardie made just two before Australia passed the target after 6.5 overs.
Earlier, Steven Smith's decision to bowl first was aided by a shoddy West Indies effort with a number of batters dismissed in tame fashion.
Following his stunning four-wicket debut at the MCG, Bartlett was immediately on the money with the new ball, as he had opener Kjorn Ottley trapped in front in his second over.
Athanaze and Carty held firm as West Indies' fortunes momentarily seemed to turn, and they eyed a decent total on the traditionally batting-friendly Manuka Oval surface.
West Indies avoided the early collapses that marred their opening two games, but the introduction of Lance Morris in the 11th over soon left them in familiar woe.
Morris had his first international wicket when Carty was brilliantly caught by a flying Marnus Labuschagne at backward point. Captain Shai Hope unsuccessfully reviewed a leg-before-wicket decision off Sean Abbott in the next over, before Morris clean bowled debutant Teddy Bishop with a searing full delivery that rattled the stumps.
Athanaze held the innings together until he threw away his wicket with a rash sweep stroke against leg-spinner Adam Zampa that was caught at deep backward square.
Smith went on the attack and brought back Bartlett, who on his first delivery nicked off Romario Shepherd.
West Indies' woeful performance was summed up with a comical run out of Forde, who bickered with batting partner Roston Chase on his way off, as their 27-year ODI drought against Australia in Australia continues.
Three WCPL matches will be a part of double-headers along with West Indies men's T20 international series against South Africa.
Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies, described the move as an exciting new concept for the second edition of the WCPL, which is scheduled for August 21 to 29.
"Women's cricket continues to be a strategic priority for Cricket West Indies, and this is another exciting new concept for WCPL 2024," Grave said.
"We are certain that there will be huge interest from people in Trinidad in these double headers, as fans will be able to watch world class international Men's cricket, followed by the best female cricketers in the region competing alongside some of the best overseas players in the world,” he added.
All the WCPL games will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, with the double-headers scheduled for August 23, 25 and 27.
Pete Russell, CEO of the Caribbean Premier League, also expressed excitement at the move.
"We are very excited to be able to work with Cricket West Indies to have the WCPL take place at the same time as these Men's T20 Internationals. It is another example of how the two organisations are working in harmony to provide the best outcome for fans, players and cricket in the region. We look forward to another successful WCPL as the tournament continues to grow year on year,” Russell reasoned.
The Hayley Matthews-led Barbados Royals clinched the previous edition of the WCPL, where a total of seven matches were held, including the final, among three teams.
South Africa are scheduled to tour the Caribbean for two Tests in Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana from August 7. This will be followed by the three-match T20I series at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy from August 23 ahead of the CPL.
The two teams will also play a four-day warm-up game ahead of the Test series in Tarouba.
The Durham bowler took five wickets from just 21 balls as the hosts were bowled out for 175 before Stokes' swift knock of 57 completed his side's routine chase of 82 to wrap up a 3-0 win.
West Indies resumed at 33-2 on day three, and Mikyle Louis (57) and Kavem Hodge (55) both hit half-centuries as the visitors sought a response.
However, Louis, Jason Holder and Alick Athanaze all went to leave them at 151-5 at lunch.
Wood then took centre stage upon the resumption, taking five wickets in a single spell for the first time in his Test career for the loss of just nine runs.
That left England requiring just 82, and Stokes and Ben Duckett (25) wasted no time in sealing a comprehensive victory after just 7.2 overs.
Data Debrief: Speedy Stokes hits historic half-century
Since 1981, Ian Botham has held the distinction of scoring England's fastest half-century in Test cricket, taking just 28 balls to achieve the feat.
Fast-forward 43 years and Stokes snatched that record in spectacular fashion, reaching 50 in just 24 balls.
The skipper led from the front and finished in style with back-to-back sixes.
The Durham bowler took five wickets in a single spell for the first time in his Test career, as the hosts completed the 3-0 series sweep at Edgbaston.
Wood, who had struggled to break through during the morning on day three of the third Test, was a man on a mission after lunch, dismissing five West Indies batsmen in just 21 balls for the loss of only nine runs.
With the Windies bowled out for 175, Ben Stokes hit the quickest half-century by an England player in Test history to seal a commanding victory.
And Wood said his fortunes in the crease changed following words of wisdom from his recently retired former team-mate.
"I was in a bit of a bad fettle actually at lunch, and I was wondering if it was something I was doing wrong or if I wasn't quite getting the right length," he said.
"I had a great conversation with Jimmy [Anderson], and a couple of the other backroom staff, and he just said, rather than thinking about the outcome, to start thinking about the skill element.
"That first wicket gave me a lot of confidence, and I was able to push on from there."
"I think that's one of the best reverse swing performances I've seen in a long time," Stokes added. "I know bowling at 93 miles per hour is tough, but when it is reverse swinging as well, it's going to be even tougher."
Meanwhile, Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite was left to rue another disappointing Test from his side.
"It was a tough series," he said. "We didn't show a lot of discipline with the ball. We let them off the hook a lot of times, and they were scoring way too fast. We didn't get enough second-innings runs in the last two Test matches."
England lost their final four wickets in relatively short order, though Jonny Bairstow reached 140 to take them past 300 for the first time since August 2021, and were then put on the backfoot by the hosts.
Kraigg Brathwaite (55) and John Campbell (35) put on 83 for the first wicket before England fought back to reduce the Windies to 127-4.
But, on a day truncated by rain, Jason Holder (43 not out) and Nkrumah Bonner (34 not out) reached stumps having put on an unbroken stand of 75 to push the Windies to 202-4, a deficit of 109 runs.
Bemoaning England's inability to make earlier inroads, Wood told Sky Sports News: "I don't think it's about being patient.
"We set higher standards than just being patient - we're out here to win and to play for England. If we're expecting in five or six Test matches' time that will be the answer, it won't.
"As can happen with any bowler, we just didn't get it right at the start and maybe we tried a bit too hard.
"With the void of [Jimmy] Anderson and [Stuart] Broad, maybe we wanted to try a bit hard and prove we can do it as a group.
"Maybe that was it, but I just don't think we started well and the way we came back I think showed good character as a group.
"We fielded well, we had good intensity there, so there were bits of play where I think we did really well.
"It's obviously going to be talked about, Anderson and Broad, because they are legends, but we just have to admit we didn't get it right to start with and we'll be out to get it right next time."
There will also be a reserve day on June 12 if necessary as the top two Test sides do battle to see who will lift the mace as world Test champions.
Those two teams are yet to be finalised, although Australia currently top the rankings while India, who they meet in a four-Test series starting on February 9, are second.
Sri Lanka and South Africa sit third and fourth respectively, with the latter set to take on reigning champions New Zealand in a two-Test series in February.
England are in hot pursuit in fifth after winning eight of their past nine Test matches, while West Indies also have a slim chance of making the final.
New Zealand's hopes of retaining the title they claimed by beating India by eight wickets in Southampton in 2021 are already over, having won just two Test matches since that famous victory.
The frustrated head coach was speaking after the West Indies lost to the Netherlands in a super over on Monday which leaves their chances of qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup in India hanging by a thread.
Having made 374-6, the West Indies were unable to successfully restrict the Dutch side from getting to 374-9 for a tie and triggering a super over. Logan van Beek, who scored 28 from 14 balls to get his side to the super over than smashed three sixes and three fours while scoring 30 runs off Jason Holder’s over.
He then took two wickets and conceded eight runs as the West Indies failed miserably in attempting to overhaul, the record-setting 30-run over by the Netherlands.
Sammy said afterwards, that the West Indies were on track for a possible victory but subsequently lost the plot.
“[At the] halfway stage, 374 on the board, I thought the batters did excellently but again it shows you where we are as a team. We were kind of poor tactically. We didn’t stick to the plans as long as possible and we just thought because we had 375 on the board that we should win, but cricket is not played like this,” he said.
“And it’s a lesson for us that you can’t take any game of cricket for granted.”
The head coach who was appointed just last month, believes his team approaching its nadir but remained optimistic about its future.
“I am a very positive thinker and I understand the journey that I have to take with this team. Sometimes you’ve got to reach rock bottom to come back up,” he said.
“I understand the challenges ahead and I also understand that things will not change overnight and it’s a true reflection of where our cricket is at the moment and we have a lot of work to do.”
The loss to the Netherlands means the West Indies, two-time champions, now face the near impossible task of qualifying for the World Cup. They must now win all their Super Six matches while hoping that Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka lose two of theirs and that the Netherlands lose at least one of theirs in order to qualify.
The Proteas hammered the Windies by an innings and 63 runs in the first Test since Dean Elgar was appointed as South Africa captain. They only need to avoid defeat at the same venue in the second match, starting on Friday, to wrap up the two-game series.
Not since March 2017 have South Africa secured a series victory on tour in the longest format, that success coming against New Zealand.
Until the opening success over West Indies last week, the South Africans had not won any Test match away from home since beating England in July 2017 at Trent Bridge.
West Indies were embarrassed on the outskirts of Gros Islet, in St Lucia, where they were skittled out for only 97 in the first innings and could only muster 162 second time around.
The pitiful first-innings total was the lowest West Indies have been dismissed for against South Africa, with Lungi Ngidi taking 5-19 and Anrich Nortje 4-35.
Quinton de Kock made a magnificent 141 to pick up the man of the match award before Kagiso Rabada steamed in to claim figures of 5-43 in the second innings, putting the tourists 1-0 up in the battle for the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy.
Kraigg Brathwaite's home side must come out fighting on Friday as they attempt to salvage a 1-1 draw, eager to end a run of nine Tests without a win over South Africa.
Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and batsman Darren Bravo have been recalled by the Windies, while Nkrumah Bonner is unavailable for selection due to concussion protocol after he was substituted in the opening Test.
MARKRAM: MORE TO COME FROM PROTEAS
South Africa could not have wished for a better start to the series, but opening batsman Aiden Markram says the tourists can move to another level.
Markram said: "It will be tough to better that performance. I'm hoping we've got more percentage in terms of being better for the next Test. I'm positive we've got something more in us."
He added: "It doesn't matter the result, if you win or lose the game, because if you're operating at the standard we've set as a team, then more often than not you'll get good results. We're pretty inexperienced, so the only thing we can measure ourselves against is the standards we set for ourselves."
FORMER SKIPPER URGES WINDIES CRITICS TO HOLD FIRE
Critics rounded on West Indies following their drubbing in the first Test, but former captain Jason Holder called for patience.
The top-ranked Test all-rounder said: "We have a relatively inexperienced batting line-up. There are guys who are looking to re-engage with Test cricket and others trying to engage in the Test arena.
"All these things add up. We need to be a little bit more patient. We've seen what they can produce, with the performances just in the recent past."
KEY OPTA FACTS
- West Indies are winless in their last six Tests on home soil (D2, L4); their last victory in the Caribbean was a 10-wicket triumph over England in February 2019.
- South Africa have a catch success rate of 81.7 per cent since the beginning of 2017 in Tests, the highest of any team. They have held on to 451 of their 552 opportunities.
- Since his debut in February 2014, no wicketkeeper has registered more dismissals in men's Tests than De Kock (221 – 210 catches and 11 stumpings).
- The Proteas' win in the first Test was their first at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium – having lost an ODI and two Twenty20 Internationals at the venue.
The hosts posted 159-5 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat.
Brandon King led the way with a run-a-ball 42 while Captain Rovman Powell made a rapid 19-ball 40* including one four and three sixes.
Kuldeep Yadav took 3-28 from his four overs for India.
India’s chase started shakily with the wickets of debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill within the first five overs.
Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma then combined to put on a match-winning 87-run third wicket partnership.
Yadav led the way with a shot-filled 44-ball 83 including 10 fours and four sixes while Varma ended 49* off 37 balls.
Captain Hardik Pandya also chipped in with 20* off 15 balls as India finished 164-3 off 17.5 overs.
Alzarri Joseph took 2-25 from his four overs for the Windies.
The West Indies now have a 2-1 lead in the series heading into the final two games.
The series will now move to Florida for the fourth and fifth T20Is on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Having already lost the series heading into the final match on Sunday, West Indies had their tails up when they had India on just 93-4 towards the end of the 14th over in Kolkata.
Ruturaj Gaikwad – one of four changes for the hosts – was dismissed early on, with Shreyas Iyer falling to Hayden Walsh (1-30) on 25, and Roston Chase (1-23) sending Ishan Kishan packing for 34.
Captain Rohit managed just seven, yet Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer combined to hit 86 in the final five overs to reach 184-5.
Yadav's brilliant knock was ended by Romario Shepherd (1-50) on 65 from just 31 balls, as Venkatesh Iyer finished unbeaten on 35.
Deepak Chahar (2-15) took two early wickets to immediately put the Windies on the back foot, only to pull up with an injury and be forced off.
Rovman Powell's 25 off 14 got the run rate up, but he fell in the seventh over, with captain Kieron Pollard (five) swiftly following.
Jason Holder (two) and Chase (12) also went in quick succession, though Nicholas Pooran (61) stayed in to give the Windies hope.
However, Shardul Thakur (2-33) undid the Windies opener in the 18th over, all but ending any lingering hopes.
Stunning late show from India pair
There was some sensational batting on show from Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer, who hit seven and two sixes respectively. They added 91 off 37 deliveries to put the game, truly, beyond the West Indies' reach.
With the ball, Harshal Patel took 3-22 to pick up the slack after Chahar's injury.
India on a roll
India have now won 13 T20Is against the West Indies, only against Sri Lanka (14) have they won more.
Indeed, they also extended their winning streak in the format to nine games, their longest such run in the format. They will go up against Sri Lanka in their next series.
The leg-spinner and left-handed batter suffered a nasal fracture when he was struck in the face during a training session last Saturday while preparing for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe.
The procedure was performed in Harare on Thursday evening. Cariah will remain with the squad under the care of the CWI Medical Team whilst he recovers. A decision on when he can return to play will be made in the coming days, as the medical team support his recovery.
Assistant Coach, Floyd Reifer, was also struck in the face during a training session on Wednesday and has also undergone a similar procedure. Reifer will continue his coaching duties under the supervision of the CWI Medical Team.
West Indies have so far played two ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier matches in the group stages, defeating United States on Sunday and Nepal on Thursday, to sit top of Group A with two group stage fixtures to play. West Indies will face Zimbabwe on Saturday June 24 and Netherlands on Monday June 27.
In the group stage, each side plays the other group teams once with the top three from each group progressing to the Super Six stage. Each team carries over to the Super Six stage any points won against the other two qualifying teams from their group. Each team in the Super Six will then play three further matches against the qualifying teams from the opposite group.
The Super Six stage will be played from Thursday 29 June to Friday 7 July and the top two teams in the final Super Six table will qualify for the ICC 2023 Cricket World Cup to be played in India later this year.
West Indies ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Group Stage Match Schedule
All matches start at 9am local time (3am Eastern Caribbean/2am Jamaica)
Sunday 18 June: West Indies beat USA by 39 runs at Takashinga Cricket Club
Thursday 22 June: West Indies beat Nepal by 101 runs at Harare Sports Club
Saturday 24 June: v Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club
Monday 26 June: v Netherlands at Takashinga Cricket Club
