Shepherd, Joseph star as WI top T20 series

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CMC):

A scintillating unbeaten cameo at the back end from all-rounder Romario Shepherd and an outstanding career-best five-wicket haul by fast bowler Alzarri Joseph combined to fire West Indies to a seven-run victory and their first Twenty20 International series win over South Africa in nearly a decade here yesterday.

Stuttering on 161 for eight in the 16th over at the Wanderers, West Indies were bailed out by the 28-year-old Shepherd who belted two fours and three sixes in a brazen 22-ball 44 not out, the innings getting up to an impressive 220 for eight in the end.

The game was then in the balance with South Africa on 186 for three at the end of the 18th over courtesy of opener Reeza Hendricks's 83 from 44 deliveries, before Joseph (5-40) removed the top-scorer - one of his three wickets in the penultimate over - as the hosts came up short.

For West Indies, the series win allowed them to salvage some joy from a tour which saw heavy defeats in the Test series and a drawn One-Day International rubber.

"I think after the last game the guys were disappointed and we took all the positives from that game and came and tried to implement it [today]," said West Indies captain Rovman Powell.

"After being under pressure today with some stumbles in the middle [order] I think the way Shepherd and Alzarri batted in the end was fantastic, and Alzarri came back in the middle [of the run chase] and got some wickets for us."

Asked to bat first in the decisive third T20I, West Indies were given a buoyant start by Brandon King who lashed 36 from 25 balls in a 39-run stand with left-hander Kyle Mayers who made 17.

King, who struck four fours and two sixes, also put on an important 55 for the third wicket with former captain Nicholas Pooran whose 41 required 19 balls and included a brace of fours and four sixes.

Needing to score at a shade over 11 runs per over, South Africa's chase was spearheaded by Hendricks, the 33-year-old thumping 11 fours and two sixes in posting 32 for the first wicket with Quinton de Kock (21), 80 for the second wicket with Rilee Rossouw (42), 37 for the third with David Miller (11) and a further 37 for the fourth wicket with captain Aiden Markram (35 not out).

Joseph struck the first blow in the fifth over when he had de Kock taken on the fence at deep point by Roston Chase, before returning to remove the dangerous Miller in the 15th.