South Africa thumped West Indies by 25 runs in the 5th and final match to clinch the five-match T20I series by 2-3. Batting first, South Africa on account of Quinton de Kock’s 60 and Aiden Markram’s 70 posted a total of 168 runs in the series decider against host.
Chasing the target, Kieron Pollard-led side at one stage looked comfortable to chase the target as Evin Lewis scored 53 runs. However, a batting collapse saw them getting reduced to 110-5 from 65 for 1. The likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran got starts but couldn't make much of it as West Indies failed to chase the target.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard said that the total seemed like a winning total for them. He admitted that they had an opportunity to chase 160 three times in the series but they failed as they kept making the same mistakes.
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He added that his side displayed a poor batting performance and they need to regroup and learn with Australia coming soon.
"The total seemed like a winning total for us. We had three opportunities in this series to chase 160 but we couldn't. But the disappointing thing for us is that we keep making the same mistakes over and over and over.
“We set up the game well for the guys in the shed. The batting was disappointing. It's good we have such outings, but we need to regroup and learn with Australia coming soon. Our squad is there and thereabout," Kieron Pollard said after the match.
Kieron Pollard further lauded Quinton de Kock for changing the momentum of the series towards South Africa. He added that team would look to try out different players in wake of the series loss and want to have personnel who can show how much it matters to them.
"Well played to Quinton and South Africa. He was fantastic for them, he changed the momentum of the series. The young bowlers for us, McCoy, Sinclair and Bravo coming good were fantastic. We need to look at some of the guys because of what transpired.
“We want people to show it matters. I like to deal with the present. This series is done, the World Cup is two months away, so let's not plan too far ahead and deal with what's ahead of us,” he concluded.
West Indies will next face Australia in the five-match T20I series starting from July 10 in Gros Islet.
