South Africa suffered a dramatic defeat West India In the third and final T20I at Wanderers on Saturday, a rain interruption and an unusual short-lived incident overshadowed the contest. Although the Proteas had already sealed the series 2-1, West Indies salvaged their pride with a thrilling six-run victory by the DLS method in what turned into a chaotic toss-up.
Rain makes SA vs WI a stop-and-go thriller
Incessant rain delayed the start of play by nearly two hours, eventually reducing the contest to 16 overs per side. West Indies got off to a fast start and were 66 for one after six overs when another hour’s rain delay intervened. This timeout shortened the game even further to just 10 per side and forced both teams into an all-out attack.
Despite the constant interruptions, the visitors quickly adapted, knowing they had nothing to lose after dropping the streak.
Shai Hope and Hetmyer power West Indies to 114/3
West Indies posted a competitive 114 for three in a revised 10 overs, led by a devastating partnership between captain Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer. Umid led from the front with a smooth 48 off 25 balls while Hetmyer was unbeaten on 48 off just 22 balls.
The pair cleared the lines between them 10 times and launched a merciless attack. One of Hetmyer’s towering sixes even hit a spectator lying on his back in the stands. The moment was lightened as the fan immediately stood up and cheered, prompting cheers from the crowd.
South Africa’s chase starts fast, then settles
Setting a DLS-adjusted target of 125, South Africa began to chase aggressively. Quinton de Kock He was smashed by 18 runs and raised hopes of another successful chase. However, the momentum quickly changed when captain Aiden Markram was caught trying to bowl a shot in the second innings.
De Kock soon followed with 14 off 28 balls and the innings picked up speed as Ryan Rickelton (15) and Dewald Brevis (17) went fast. Spinner Gudakesh Motie struck three times in the space of eight balls as South Africa struggled to recover.
Jason Smith instilled fresh hope with a powerful 20-run eighth and kept the chase alive. South Africa ramped up the tension under the Johannesburg lights, needing 16 runs to win, reaching the final.
The equation was reduced to nine runs from three balls when Smith found a boundary, but the drama was not over.
Corbin Bosch’s broken bat and short run catch attention at Wanderers
The defining moment came in the fifth ball of the ninth over. Shamar Joseph delivered a full ball to Corbin Bosh who attempted a high shot. The bat snapped near the grip mid-swing and sent the ball over long-on.
Rovman Powell dropped the catch, but chaos ensued. Bosch tried to put the broken bat — without the handle — across the crease. In a strange scene, he held the knife in one hand and the handle in the other, but he couldn’t get the right grip. The umpires ruled it short, ending South Africa’s vital run in the dying moments.
Off the last delivery, Bosch could only manage a single as Joseph fired a full delivery at middle stump. West Indies held their nerve to win by six runsIt ended South Africa’s series winning streak on a dramatic note.
West Indies end T20I series against South Africa on a winning note 😊#cricket #SavWI #3rdT20I pic.twitter.com/TOfrs2qiVA
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 1, 2026
West Indies left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was named Player of the Match for his brilliance with the ball.
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