दक्षिण अफ्रीका vs वेस्ट इंडीज, पहला टी20 Commentary, Live Updates

That’s a Wrap from Paarl - That brings us to the end of an entertaining contest, where South Africa take a 1–0 lead and will now look to seal the series in the next game. West Indies, on the other hand, will be desperate to bounce back, level the series, and force a decider. For the second T20I, the action moves to SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday, 29th January, with the match set to begin at 4 pm GMT. As always, you can join us early for all the build-up and coverage. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

The victorious skipper of South Africa -  Aiden Markram expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating that the side was strong in all departments and that he was pleased to start the series with a win. He praised the wicket for playing well and commended the bowling unit for their excellent effort, noting that the ball was coming nicely under the lights. Markram highlighted Rickelton’s performance, mentioning that he adapted to a different role outside the Powerplay, controlled the innings effectively, and made the most of the options he is known for. He concluded by emphasizing the squad’s depth, adding that it’s encouraging to see players stepping up and putting their hands up for national selection.

The captain of West Indies - Roston Chase starts by giving credit to the Proteas for playing well. Adds that they restricted them to a below-par score and chased it down well. Tells that they thought it was a defendable total, but they wanted to get 190-195. Mentions that they did not have big partnerships, whenever they got in, they got out, which was the downfall, and with the ball, they did not start well and allowed the hosts to dictate terms. Further adds that it is upto the batters to take the game deep, you need to take risks in T20 cricket, but they have to be calculated. Reckons they had some soft dismissals in the middle, batters getting out on 20s and 30s, and could not get to the big score that they wanted. He hopes that the wicket in Centurion will be good, also admits that this wicket did not play badly, yes, two-paced and kept low, but not too bad. Ends by saying that he does not think the wicket played a big role, but says that it would be good if they can get something that is a bit quicker and comes onto the bat nicely.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH is George Linde (4-0-25-3) - He says he is happy to play alongside a group of talented cricketers and described it as an awesome team to be part of. He added that he is looking forward to the World Cup. Reflecting on his recent games, Linde mentioned that his team got knocked out early in SA20, which gave him six days off, allowing his body to feel good again. He also shared that he wants to challenge himself while fulfilling the team's needs. Although he enjoys batting more, he is currently contributing primarily as a bowler for the team.

Presentation Time...

Windies Fall Short with the Ball - There is not much to say about West Indies' bowling effort, as they never really looked like defending this total and will need to improve in several areas if they want to challenge stronger sides. Injuries have played a part, but that cannot be used as an excuse, as the players on the field are more than capable of putting up a better fight. Roston Chase was the only wicket-taker, but that was never going to be enough.

Middle-Order Muscle for Windies - Earlier in the game, after a steady start from the openers, West Indies found themselves in trouble at 95/5, but some clean and powerful hitting from Hetmyer and Powell turned the innings around, with the pair adding a crucial 74-run stand to push the total past 170. It was a mixed bowling effort from South Africa, but timely wickets helped them stay in control, with George Linde leading the way with a three-wicket haul, while Maharaj and Bosch chipped in with two each, and Rabada and Maphaka remained wicketless but kept things economical.

A captain's knock - The opening pair of Pretorius and Markram broke the back of the chase, racing to 50 inside five overs and adding 83 for the first wicket, which reduced the target by more than half. Pretorius was dismissed after a brisk 44 off 28, but Markram held one end and never looked in trouble, mixing control with some eye-catching and outrageous strokes. He then added another 81 with Rickelton, who played his part, but the star of the show was the skipper himself, finishing unbeaten on 86 off 47, his career-best in T20Is.

A Chasing Masterclass - South Africa made light work of the chase to draw first blood in the series, producing an emphatic batting display to get over the line with 13 balls to spare. Skipper Aiden Markram led from the front, making the run chase look effortless with a classy and controlled knock. West Indies, meanwhile, will have plenty to reflect on and will need to regroup quickly ahead of the next game.

FOUR! Aiden Markram hits the winning runs! Jason Holder goes short again and on middle, Markram picks up the length early and pulls it between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 9 WICKETS!

SIX! Shot of the match so far! Jason Holder bangs this into the pitch and around off. Aiden Markram backs away to give himself some room, extends his arms and plays it like a tennis player to flat-bat it over the long off fence for a biggie. Just 2 to win now.

Short of a length and on off, Rickelton pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Fuller and on middle and leg, Markram flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

On a length and on middle, Markram tucks it with soft hands through mid-wicket and comes back for the second run. Just 10 runs needed now.

Another yorker, on middle, Markram jams it out to long on for a single.

Good fielding! Short of a length and outside off, Markram cuts it wide of point. Joseph dives to his right and gets a hand on it to make a half-stop. He gets up and goes after it to keep it down to two runs. This is now Markram's highest T20I score.

Back of a length and around off, Ryan punches it through covers for another run.

Full and on leg, Markram flicks it away to deep square leg for a run.

Nails the yorker, on middle, tailing in, Markram gets his bat down in time to dig it out.

Fuller and on off, Rickelton drives it to long off for a single.

Overpitched and on off, Rickelton drills it to long off for one.

Fuller and around off, Rickelton reaches out and forces it wide of sweeper cover and calls his partner for the second. Markram is running to the danger end, and Joseph throws it to the bowler, but Markram gets in.

WIDE! Back of a length but a bit too outside off, Rickelton tries to cut but misses. Given as a wide.

Fuller and on leg, Markram glances it to deep fine leg for one. 22 needed in 26 now.

FOUR! Pierced the gap perfectly! Pitched up, almost in the blockhole, on off. Markram opens the face of his bat late and squeezes it between short third and backward point for a boundary.

Fuller and angling into leg, Rickelton looks to flick it away but misses as the ball goes off his pads towards square leg. A leg bye taken. Rickelton is not happy with himself, as this was there to be put away.

Short of a length and around leg, Markram backs away and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller and on off, RR drills it towards long off and takes him. Turns around for the second and makes it easily. Excellent running between the wickets!

Pitched up and on off, Rickelton lobs it past the bowler towards long off for another couple of runs.

On a length and on leg, Ryan tucks it with soft hands through mid-wicket and comes back for the secone run.

SIX! Gets all of it! Banged into the pitch but around leg. Rickelton gets inside the line of it and just helps it on its way over the deep fine leg fence for a biggie.

Short of a length and outside off, Markram punches it wide of sweeper cover for a run. Rickelton sets off for the second but is sent back. The throw from the deep is a weak one and to the wrong end as well. That also brings up the 50-run stand between these two batters.

Slower, full and on leg, Rickelton tucks it towards square leg for a single.

FOUR! That spoils the over! Romario Shepherd tries the yorker but just strays into the leg side. Aiden Markram just has to get some bat on it with fine leg up in the circle and tickles it away to the fence for a boundary. The extra ball cost the Windies here.

WIDE! Short of a length but down the leg side, Markram leaves it alone. Called a wide.

A full toss, outside off, Rickelton swings hard and slices it in the air. It drops well ahead of long off. They cross.

Swing and a miss! Clever change of pace from Shepherd. He bangs this into the pitch, outside off, Rickelton goes through his pull miles early and fails to connect.

Back of a length and on off, Rickelton punches it straight to extra cover.

Fuller and angling into leg, Markram comes forwad and heaves it off the inner half of the bat to deep square leg for a single.

Slower one, on a length and around off, Markram guides it to backward point.

Fuller and on off, angling in. Markram backs away, waits for it and stabs it from right in front of the stumps towards short third for one. 50 needed in 42 balls now.

FOUR! Put away! Hard-length delivery, outside off, takes pace off. Markram reads it early, gets on top of it and slaps it through extra cover for a boundary.

Uppish but safe! Short of a length and on leg, Rickelton looks to clip it away but gets a leading edge. It lobs up in the air and safely in the vacant square leg region. They cross.

Bangs in a quick short ball, on middle. Rickelton goes for the pull but gets beaten by the pace as it goes off his body towards point.

Back of a length and on middle and leg, Rickelton gets cramped up and pats it to the leg side.

Fuller and outside off, Markram reaches out and carves it to sweeper cover for a single.

Flatter, full and on middle, Rickelton clips it wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

DROPPED! Tossed up, full and on off, Rickelton tries to smack it down the ground but fails to get under it. He hits it flat and hard, uppishly back to the bowler. Chase gets both hands on it but fails to hold on to it. The Windies have to take even the half-chances to get back in this game.

Fires this full and outside off, RR jams it out to short cover.

SIX! Ryan Rickelton goes big now! This is tossed up, full and around middle, Rickelton goes down on one knee and nails the slog sweep over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Flatter, full and on middle, Markram drills it to long on for a run.

Short and around off, Ryan punches it  through cover-point for a single.

FIFTY FOR MARKRAM! A fantastic half-century from him, his has come in quick time as well, just 28 balls. This is short and on off, Aiden Markram moves back and punches it wide of long off and calls for the second run. Rickelton has to hurry to the other but makes his ground.

Flighted, full and on leg, Rickelton goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg for one.

Flatter, full and around off, Markram drills it to long off for another run.

Slows it up, full and on off, Rickelton strides out and taps it towards extra cover for a run.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Markram drives it to long on for a single.

SIX! That has gone miles! Akeal Hosein drops it short and around off, begging to be put away. Aiden Markram rocks back quickly and pulls it with disdain over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. 100 UP FOR THE PROTEAS!

DRINKS! South Africa are crusing along this chase, thanks to the explosive start from their openers. Lhuan-dre Pretorius led the way, but got out just before his fifty. However, Aiden Markram is continuing to attack, and at the moment, it looks like they will chase this down with many balls to spare. West Indies need someone to step up and deliver something special, as only wickets can get them back in this game. Also, Akeal Hosein to bowl after the break,

Flighted full, turning into off. Markram flicks it through mid-wicket for a single. At the halfway mark, the Proteas are 95/1. They need another 79 off the next ten overs.

Quicker arm ball, outside the leg pole. Rickelton makes room and knocks it toward deep mid-wicket for one.

Flatter and quicker on off. Markram lifts it toward long off for one more.

Quicker length ball, on the leg. Rickelton works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter arm ball, on off. Knocked toward the right of the bowler.

FOUR! Nicely done! Tossed up full, on the middle and off. Rickelton brings out the reverse sweep and gets it toward the deep backward point region for a clever boundary.

Yorker length ball, at the stumps. Rickelton bunts it past the bowler and toward mid off for a single.

Slower and shorter, around off. Markram advances and half pulls it toward long on for one.

Slower ball on a length, just outside off. Markram looks to cut gets cramped and ends up chopping into the off-side.

Pace off on a length, on off. Knocked down to long on for a single.

Back of a length, just outside off. Rickelton rides the bounce and steers it toward backward point.

Fuller than a length, outside off. Driven nicely toward long off for one.

Flatter arm ball, on middle. Rickelton knocks it back to the bowler.

Ryan Rickelton joins Markram in the middle.

OUT! TAKEN! CHASE GETS THE MUCH-NEEDED WICKET. Looped up full, on the middle and leg stump line. Pretorius sits on his knee and slogs it hard and flat toward deep mid-wicket, where Forde takes a sharp catch tumbling to his left. Pretorius departs for a well-made 44. South Africa lose their first after a solid opening stand.

Tad short, quicker, on the middle. Pretorius half pulls it past the bowler, down to long on for two more.

Flatter arm ball, around off. Markram carves it toward deep backward point for a single.

Tad short, outside off. Chopped into covers for a single.

FOUR! No need to run for it! Fuller and quicker on off. Pretorius dances down and smashes it over the bowler's head. Chase, on his follow-through, tries to get his hands up quickly, but it is hit very hard, and brushes his fingers to race away to the fence behind for a boundary.

Tad short, around off. Markram goes back and pulls it toward the vacant wide long on region for a brace.

Flatter on off. Pretorius reverses it toward a deep backward point for a single.

Tossed up full, on the leg. Markram works it through mid-wicket for one.

On a length, on the middle and leg. Pretorius hangs back and nudges it through mid-wicket for one more.

Flatter, just outside off. Markram cuts this to deep cover point for a single.

Tossed up on a length, on off. Pretorius knocks it toward the wide of mid on for one.

Yorker length delivery, just outside off. Pretorius bunts it past the bowler and down the ground for a single. South Africa are 68/0 after the Powerplay.

On a length, on the leg pole. Markram flicks it toward deep mid-wicket for one.

WIDE! Slower and shorter, angling down the leg. Markram looks to pull but misses. Wide signaled by the umpire.

Pace off on a length, on the leg. Markram works it through the gap at backward square leg for a couple.

Another slower ball on a fullish length, just outside off. Pretorius drags it through square leg for one.

FOUR! What a shot! Slower ball on the length, around off. Pretorius gets the bottom hand into play and pulls it through mid-wicket for a cracking boundary.

SIX! Clean strike! Slower ball on the full, just outside off. Pretorius picks it early and pumps it over long on for half a dozen.

Back of a length again, on off and middle. Pretorius swat-pulls it through mid-wicket for one.

Back of a length on off. Pretorius gets on top of the bounce and defends into the off side.

IN THE AIR AND DROPPED! Short of a good length, shaping away, around off. Markram looks to hit it on the up, but miscues the loft toward the extra cover region, where Hosein puts down a simple chance. Single taken.

SIX! ALL THE WAY! Full pitcher on the leg. Markram picks it early and whacks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. Also, 50 up for South Africa inside 5 overs!

Fuller than a length, outside off. Drilled toward the wide of mid off region and they take a single.

FOUR! Holder is greeted with a boundary! Back of a length, outside off. Pretorius rides the bounce and steers it through the gap at backward point and the point fielder for a lovely boundary.

Fired in on the middle and leg. Pretorius bunts it toward mid on for a quick single. Just 5 runs off the fourth over.

Darted full, on the leg. Pretorius misses the flick and wears on the pad. Three dots in a row.

Tossed up around off. Pretorius mistimes the slog toward mid on for none.

Flatter on the middle. Pretorius drags it toward short mid-wicket.

FOUR! Over the top! Flighted full, on off. Pretorious shimmies down and lifts it over the bowler, toward straightish long on for a thumping boundary.

Fuller and quicker, at the stumps. Pretorius bunts it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Punished! Hosein drops it short, on off. Markram rocks back and forces the pull through wide of mid-on for a boundary to end the over. After three overs, South Africa are 34/0.

Flatter arm ball, on off. Markram stays back and knocks it toward short extra cover.

Tossed up on a length, on off. Pretorius shimmies down and nudges it toward backward square leg for one.

On a length, attacking the stumps. Punched down to long off for one.

WIDE! Quicker arm ball, sliding down the leg. Markram lets it go. Wide signaled.

Flatter delivery on off. Pretorius works it through the gap at mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! He made it look so easy! Tossed up full, just outside off. Pretorius makes room and drills it past the bowler and down the ground for a boundary to start the over.

Time for spin. Akeal Hosein comes into the attack..

FOUR! Up and over! Fuller than a length, around off. Markram plays a lovely lofted drive over covers for a majestic boundary to end the over. South Africa are off to a brisk start.

Skiddy, short of a good length ball, angled into middle. Markram flicks it to the man at short mid-wicket.

Back of a length, on off. Markram gets on top of the bounce and knocks it toward short extra cover.

LEG BYE! Fuller than a length on the leg. Pretorius misses the flick and it rolls off the pad toward backward square leg for a leg bye.

FOUR! That sounded so good off the bat! Short of a good length, around off. Pretorius presses forward and times it nicely through covers for a glorious boundary.

Fuller than a good length, shapes back into off. Pretorius comes forward and defends it toward mid on.

Jayden Seales will share the attack.

FOUR MORE! Sublime! Fuller than a good length, around off. Markram gets on the front foot and times it through the gap at covers for a third boundary in the over. 13 runs off the opening over in the chase of 174.

Tight line and length on off. Markram gets forward and defends from the crease.

FOUR! Lovely! Slower ball on the full, just outside off. Markram gets forward and drives it through extra cover and wide of mid-off for a classy boundary.

Fuller than a good length, on off. Markram knocks it toward the man at mid off.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Full and wide outside off. Markram leans into it and creams the drive through covers for a boundary to get off the mark.

The Proteas are away with a single. Back of a length, angling into off. Pretorius tucks it toward the gap at backward square leg for a single.