a full toss this time. Rabada finally gets it completely wrong and Allen dispatches it over deep square leg but that's not enough for West Indies
West Indies vs South Africa, 3rd T20I at St George's, WI v SA, Jun 29 2021 - Ball by Ball Commentary
That's all from our side for today. See you soon.
Temba Bavuma: I think it's a big confidence booster for us as a team. In the past, we have let slip such games. A big confidence booster but there are still two games left. I am still confident that 180 is a total to get on this wicket. It gets difficult in the second half and in that case, we back our bowlers to come good. It was nice having an extra bowling option; Aiden is more than a part-timer. Shamsi has been magnificent. It makes my job easier. He has been supported well by George. But we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, these guys are not world champions for no reason.
Kieron Pollard: At some point of time we hope to get right. Getting off to a good start and not being able to get over the line... we just have to find a way. Time and time again you have these close matches. Sometimes you end on a winning side, sometimes on a losing side. The bowlers have been fantastic. South Africa have been getting off to a good start. Actually both teams. That's the nature of the wicket. Obed McCoy and Bravo were superb at the death.
It's time for the presentation ceremony.
Tabraiz Shamsi, the Player of the Match: The whole unit was brilliant today. Quinny showed his class with the bat and then bowlers were brilliant. We had a hard chat after the first game. People gave a lot of criticism but we are a young side and the boys are learning pretty quickly. Evin plays differently how Shimron was playing. So you have to adjust accordingly. But I am really happy with the bowling performance of the whole unit. As a player, you always want more. I want us to score 250 but that's not always possible. Wickets are also getting tougher, so we fully back out batsmen and as a bowling unit, our job is to come out and try to defend."
Ramesh Bhandari: "needed better effort in 19th over" -- I think Nortje bowled superbly
Ebrahim : "SA finally learning to get through crunch situations ! "
Irfan: "Pooran can be a match winner but his slow innings cost them today"
5.50pm South Africa seal a thriller, thanks to de Kock first with bat and then to their bowlers, who defended 160-odd for the second game in a row, against a batting line-up stacked with who's who of power-hitting. South Africa lead the five-match series 2-1.
Sampath pings: Just the second time West Indies lost a T20I by 1 run margin. It was also against South Africa at home in 2010.
Tathya: "In these 3 games, matches are becoming more and more interesting as the series progresses, I wonder what the last two matches will have to offer!!!"
Mohammed: "Great example on how to throw the advantage. WI might have some good T20 players but they seriously need some team spirit. Too Bad. Too Sad!!!! "
Reinier: "How did WI contrive to lose that?!"
XOLAMZI: "What is an anomaly??? Another anomaly by SA...wow just wow....I said the other day that I JUST LOVE CRICKET"
another yorker through the legs, this is brilliant from Rabada. He is showing his class and Allen once again fails to get bat on it. That's the game sealed unless Rabada gives away extras
Eight needed from two balls
fuller on the leg stump, Allen manages to flick it towards deep-backward square leg where Nortje fumbles and allows the second run
Ten needed from three balls
yorker again. Gone through the legs again. Allen is moving away towards the leg side and that's causing him some problems
attempts another yorker but ends up bowling a full toss on the pads. Allen looks to hoick it away and is lucky to get enough on it to get it past short fine leg
a yorker, down the leg side once again but this time it goes between Allen's legs
and Rabada starts with a full delivery down the leg side. A wide as Allen fails to get bat on it
15 needed from the last over. Rabada has the ball. Allen on strike
and he does. Another excellent yorker and Bravo can only dig it back towards the bowler
Dwayne Bravo is the new batter. And he's no mug with a bat. West Indies need 15 from seven balls though. Can Nortje finish well?
given lbw and Pooran isn't happy with himself. Smashes his bat onto his pads in frustration before deciding to go for the review. It's all in hope, I get the feeling. Was a fuller delivery at the stumps, Pooran went for a paddle shot but missed and was hit on the bent back leg. It was hitting one-third of the way up on the middle stump
aims for the yorker but ends up bowling a low full toss. It's straight and Pooran pushes it back towards the bowler who stops it in his followthrough
a full toss on the stumps, pushed towards midwicket. Pooran calls two straightaway and Allen hares back for the second. Easily done in the end against a weak throw
James : "Allen played an excellent cameo in the last game. Can he do it again?"
fuller around off, drilled towards long-off for one
goes for the yorker, 141kph. Pooran manages to get some bat on it as the ball ricochets off the pads towards short fine leg
19 needed from 12. Nortje to bowl
length ball around off, pushes it to the right of the bowler who dives in his followthrough but cannot stop it
slower bouncer. Pulls it down towards deep-backward square leg
length ball, wide outside off. Allen misses the cut
Fabian Allen now. He smashed five sixes in his 34 in the last game
Ngidi goes for the yorker but Pooran takes it on the full and hits it down the ground for a single
bang!. A length ball outside off, sits up perfectly for Pooran who smash-pulls it over deep midwicket
length ball outside off, looks to smash it through the off side but misses
Around the wicket
Markram shows his class in the field. A low full toss around off and Russell hits it flat to the right of long-on. Markram takes a couple of steps to his right and dives as he pouches it
Sammy J: "I took a step to the kitchen to grab a coffee, it was 96 for 3" -- That's why you don't move while watching cricket
Over 20 • WI 166/7
South Africa won by 1 run