Twitter Reactions: Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran dominate a poor Proteas bowling performance in the first T20I

West Indies openers Alick Athanaze and Shai Hope gave the hosts a fantastic start in the chase. They pulled the game away from the Aiden Markram-led team by knowing the wicket, timing their innings correctly, and establishing a partnership of 84 runs. Nicholas Pooran dealt with what remained.

Nicholas Pooran came out to bat at three and caused havoc after Athanaze was dismissed for forty runs.

The West Indies are playing South Africa in a three-match T20I series, and they have a point to prove after a terrible T20 World Cup. Comparatively, South Africa made it to the tournament finals, but without some of their best players for this particular match, they were weak and lost by seven wickets in Trinidad.

Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks opened the innings for South Africa in Quinton de Kock’s absence. Tristan Stubbs, batting at number four, was able to save the Proteas after the pair and captain Aiden Markram failed to leave an impact. But, the visitors suffered as wickets tumbled on one end. In the meantime, Stubbs and Patrick Kruger combined to play aggressive cricket, and together they enabled South Africa score a decent total.

Against 32 balls, Kruger scored 44 runs, while Stubbs scored 76 off 42 balls. As South Africa scored 174 runs in the opening innings, they put together a 71-run partnership. Shamar Joseph took two wickets for the West Indies, while Matthew Forde claimed three.

Also Read: South Africa vs West Indies 2024: Schedule, Squad, Live Streaming, Broadcasters & All you need to know

In order to help the West Indies win easily by seven wickets, he hammered the ball all over the pitch and scored 65* runs off only 26 balls. West Indies took a 1-0 lead in the series as Hope gave him outstanding support with a half-century. The absence of Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, and Kagiso Rabada particularly concerned South Africa. Their setback can partly be attributed to the absence of Heinrich Klaasen.

Here’s how Twitter (X) reacted:

Nicholas Pooran shines as West indies defeated South Africa by 7 wickets.#cricket #WIvSA #Pooran #WindiesCricket#ShikharDhawan #retirement #shikardhawan pic.twitter.com/YlkZ9fYACm

— The wide Yorker (@TheWideYorker) August 24, 2024

West Indies beat South Africa by 7 wickets on 1st T20I
Nicholas Pooran the hero
65 from 26 ball with 7 gigantic Sixes #WIvsSA

— Roni Das (@RoniDas1297) August 24, 2024

Result of the first T20i match between South Africa and West Indies

– 174/7 (20)
– 176/3 (17.5)

West Indies won by 7 Wickets (13 balls left) pic.twitter.com/nnBVCSFY8f

— JD CriCo (@Gaurav_05Kumar) August 24, 2024

West Indies beat South Africa by 7 wickets with 13 balls left.

Pooran 65* (26) with 7 Sixes including 4 in an over of Burger. #WIvSA pic.twitter.com/smdon73b5p

— Jutt news (@PakNews1855886) August 24, 2024

West Indies beat South Africa by 7 wickets with 13 balls left.

Pooran 65* (26) with 7 Sixes including 4 in an over of Burger. #WIvSA pic.twitter.com/9Roe1Cxags

— Nawaz (@Rnawaz31888) August 24, 2024

Fabulous T20 game between West Indies and South Africa!
South Africa had set a decent total of 175 which West Indies chased with 2 overs remaining courtesy incredible hitting by their wicket keeper Pooran who hit 65 off just 26 balls – 7 sixes in his innings at the Strike Rate… pic.twitter.com/dMa9fFTQsC

— Basit Subhani (@BasitSubhani) August 24, 2024

42/5 to 176/7

23(21) to 76(42)
Stubbs Nation Where r we!!! We got an innings underpressure #WIvsSA pic.twitter.com/0qbPK2vEUx

— SM⁶³ (@LongOff_____) August 24, 2024

Stubbs yae kadavuleeee pic.twitter.com/pFwEV5xCvP

— Mani Dhoni (@manidhonii) August 24, 2024