Twitter Reactions: De Kock, Shamsi and Nortje give South Africa 2-1 series lead

After losing the opening T20I, South Africa have managed to make a stupendous comeback in the five-match series against the West Indies. On Tuesday, May 29, the Proteas won the third game by one run to take a crucial 2-1 lead in the series. The hosts, in the meantime, have failed to chase down targets in back-to-back matches and are now in a must-win position for the remaining games.

De Kock takes charge

After being put in to bat first, the visitors started handsomely. Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock put on 42 for the opening wicket off 25 balls before Obed McCoy dismissed the former. In the same over, McCoy picked Temba Bavuma’s wicket as well.

Aiden Markram scored an 18-ball 23 before he fell prey to Dwayne Bravo. De Kock and Rassie van der Dussen stitched together a 60-run stand. Van der Dussen notched a 24-ball 32 after which he became McCoy’s third victim. David Miller and George Linde couldn’t get into double digits.

De Kock, on the other hand, played until the 18th over and racked up 72 runs off 51 balls with five fours and two sixes. For the Caribbean team, McCoy got four wickets and he got the apt support from Bravo, picked up three wickets for only 25 runs.

Proteas get home

West Indies had a steady start to their run-chase after Evin Lewis and Lendl Simmons’ 55-run stand for the opening wicket. Both scored in their 20s before falling prey to the spinners- Linde and Tabraiz Shamsi. Jason Holder’s promotion to three worked to some extent as he got an 11-ball 16.

Shimron Hetmyer hit two sixes on his return to the playing eleven before Shamsi accounted for his prized scalp. When Kagiso Rabada pinned Kieron Pollard, the home team needed 64 runs off 45 balls. Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell scored 26 and 25 to keep West Indies in the game.

The hosts needed 15 runs to win off the last over, but despite Fabian Allen’s last-ball six, they couldn’t get over the finishing line. Not to forget that Rabada bowled as many as three dot deliveries in the last over. Anrich Nortje also picked up two wickets.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to South Africa’s win:

Tabraiz Shamsi bags Player of the match for his amazing bowling spell of 2/13.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 29, 2021

Tabraiz Shamsi is a world class t20 bowler

— Saeed Cricky🏏 (@SaeedCricky) June 29, 2021

Tabraiz Shamsi is just on another level at the moment!!!!
Quality Bowling 👏👏👏

— Uwais_Saeed_13🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 (@13Uwais) June 29, 2021

What a Win for South Africa by Just 1 Run vs West Indies in 3rd T20I and take lead with 2-1. This is awesome game and South African bowlers defend the Total very well against WI Batters. Tabraiz Shamsi is the Star with the ball yet another time and Nortje Bowled well. #WIvsSA

— Viratkohli (@imsanjayvg) June 30, 2021

Tabraiz Shamsi in this T20I Series against West Indies so far:-

•4-0-27-1
•4-0-16-1
•4-0-13-2

His Economy 4.67 in this series, this is remarkable. Because bowling with such economy Against Lewis, Pollard, Gayle, Russell, Pooran, Simmons like batsman it's amazing. #WIvsSA

— Viratkohli (@imsanjayvg) June 30, 2021

Most T20I MoM by SA Spinners

4 Imran Tahir
2 Johan Botha
2 Van der Merwe
2 Aaron Phagiso
2 GEORGE LINDE
2 TABRAIZ SHAMSI

— Merin Kumar ™ (@merin_kumar) June 29, 2021

Tabraiz Shamsi is phenomenal.

— Basia Nonyana (@_Ngwanaofela) June 29, 2021

South Africa by one run, the margin between the teams seemed wider than that. Great effort in those last two overs especially. #WIvSA

— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) June 29, 2021

South Africa's attempt to create a bowling option from their top six have been smashed to pieces by West Indies.

45 runs in three overs from Reeza Hendricks and Markram combined so far this series.#WIvSA

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) June 29, 2021