Cricket : South Africa Chase Down Record T20 After Charles Hits Amazing Ton

Johnson Charles vs South Africa 2023

South Africa vs West Indies

2nd Twenty20 International

Venue: Super Sports Park, Centurion

Result: South Africa won by 6 wickets

Man of the Match: Quinton de Kock

Scorecard: https://www.windiescricket.com/matches/215140/#scorecard

West Indies and South Africa featured in one of the most amazing T20 matches of all time with the home side coming away winners in a 500-run thriller on Sunday evening. After the visitors made a record 258-6 the Proteas pulled off the highest successful run chase in T20 International cricket as they made 259-4 off 18.5 overs in reply. The match was played on a superb batting surface which produced a total of 35 sixes and 46 fours and the match aggregate of 517 runs – the highest aggregate in a T20 International.

West Indies innings was centered around a remarkable display of power-hitting from opener Johnson Charles, who made 118 off 46 balls. He led the West Indies to their record total – surpassing the previous highest of 245-6 against India in Fort Lauderdale in 2016.

ENTERED RECORD BOOKS

Charles entered the record book with the quickest century for West Indies, achieved off 39 balls, eight fewer than Chris Gayle’s previous best mark against England in Mumbai in 2016. The free-slowing Charles smashed 11 towering sixes – half of the West Indies total for the innings — which equalled the record 22 in an inning set by Afghanistan against Ireland three years ago. He was well supported by Kyle Mayers (51) in a 135-run second-wicket partnership followed by an unbeaten 41 off just 18 balls from Romario Shepherd.

“Today on this field, which is small, you could clearly see that the conventional cricket shots can work and they did work. You know as a batter on this kind of pitch you don’t have to over-hit the ball and that is one of the key points which we as batters had in the back of our minds,”
Charles told reporters after the match.

“In terms of the sport, ‘cricket shots’ will always be ‘cricket’. Whatever it is, guys are constantly evolving an learning. It is a beautiful sight to see.”
Charles added:

“the shot that brought up the hundred was special. Being able to hit a six over cover is not easy to play, but it felt really good, being that it brought up the landmark, something which I will cherish.”
CRAZY GAME

Opener Quinton de Kock hit his maiden T20 century as South Africa scored at 13 runs per over to win the match. South Africa began at a blistering pace in reply and by scoring 150 without loss off the first 10 overs. De Kock took 43 balls to reach his century but departed straight after to end a 152-run opening partnership with Reeza Hendricks, who made 68 off 28 balls.

Rovman Powell vs South Africa 2023
“It was a pretty crazy game. When we came out to bowl we thought we had done enough. They applied the pressure from ball one and we didn’t respond,”
West Indies captain Rovman Powell said.

The result now means that the three-match series is tied 1-1 – following the West Indies’ victory in the first contest on Saturday. The two teams will meet in the third and final match on Tuesday at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. The first ball is 6 pm (12 noon Eastern Caribbean/11 am Jamaica).

MATCH SCHEDULE

Saturday, 25 March: West Indies won by three wickets – SuperSport Park, Centurion

Sunday, 26 March: South Africa won by 5 wickets – SuperSport Park, Centurion

Tuesday, 28 March: 3rd T20 International – Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

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