- Proteas captain Temba Bavuma says the side conceding 60-plus in the last four overs in the fourth T20 is “criminal”.
- The West Indies were reeling on 101/6 before Kieron Pollard blasted a fast half-century to take the hosts to 167/6.
- Bavuma adds they might look to their resources within the squad for the series decider on Saturday.
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma was not pleased with South Africa’s death bowling in the fourth T20 against the West Indies in St George’s on Thursday.
The West Indies sealed a 21-run victory to level the five-match T20 series 2-2, with the series decider set for Saturday.
After winning the toss, Bavuma opted to field first – a decision he doesn’t think altered the result – as the visitors got off to a stellar start with the ball.
The West Indies again struggled against the spin of Tabraiz Shamsi and George Linde, with the hosts soon finding themselves in trouble at 89/5.
Shamsi took 2-13 and Linde finished with 2-16 as they stifled the Windies batters brilliantly in the middle orders.
Wickets fell at regular intervals and when Andre Russell (9) top-edged Shamsi, the West Indies were limping at 101 for six in the 16th over.
The Proteas were looking to restrict the hosts to a total below 140 but skipper Kieron Pollard gave his side a fighting chance.
Pollard blasted an unbeaten 51 off 25 balls (four fives and six sixes) and shared a vital partnership with Fabian Allen (19*).
The pair shared an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 66 as the hosts scored 66 runs off the last four overs, eventually posting a competitive 167/6.
Bavuma said the Proteas quicks were lacking the ability to perform in the Caribbean, adding that conceding that many runs at the death was “criminal”.
Kagiso Rabada conceded 25 runs off the penultimate over, while Lungi Ngidi’s two death overs cost 30 runs.
“These guys are experienced, they’re playing in conditions that they know back to front. We’ve seen the display of their skills and how they’re able to adapt and put our batters under pressure,” Bavuma told reporters on Thursday.
“We more or less strived on bowling on quick, bouncy wickets and that’s a skill set that becomes null and void in these type of conditions, so maybe we have been found wanting in that department. To concede 60 in the last four is criminal.”
Aiden Markram – 0/20 in 1 over
Lungi Ngidi – 0/48 in 4 overs
Anrich Nortje – 1/32 in 4 overs
Kagiso Rabada – 1/36 in 3 overs
George Linde – 2/16 in 4 overs
Tabraiz Shamsi – 2/13 in 4 overs
Despite the Proteas also failing with the bat – they finished on 146/9 – Bavuma and his charges have the opportunity to go back to the drawing board ahead of Saturday’s final T20.
The South Africans are already concerned over the fitness of Nortje, who took a painful blow on the left knee amid Pollard’s late assault.
Bavuma says they have a lot of bowlers within the squad and will make a decision on whether to change their established pace attack.
“With the bowling resources we have, we have to definitely look at those guys and see what role they can play,” said Bavuma.
“Sisanda (Magala) is struggling with an ankle niggle at the moment, he isn’t up for selection. Lizaad (Williams) and Beuran (Hendricks) come into the picture but we’ll see what team we finalise for Saturday.”
The fifth T20I is scheduled for 20:00 (SA time) on Saturday.
Proteas T20 squad:
Temba Bavuma (captain, Central Gauteng Lions), Quinton de Kock (Northerns), Bjorn Fortuin (Central Gauteng Lions), Beuran Hendricks (Western Province), Reeza Hendricks (Central Gauteng Lions), Heinrich Klaasen (Northerns), George Linde (Western Province), Sisanda Magala (Central Gauteng Lions), Janneman Malan (Boland), Aiden Markram (Northerns), David Miller (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal), Wiaan Mulder (Central Gauteng Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Northerns), Anrich Nortje (Eastern Province), Andile Phehlukwayo (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal), Kagiso Rabada (Central Gauteng Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Northerns), Rassie van der Dussen (Central Gauteng Lions), Kyle Verreynne (Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Northerns)