South Africa lose third T20I to West Indies amid short-term drama at Wanderers

South Africa suffered a dramatic defeat West Indies in the third and final T20I at the Wanderers on Saturday, when rain delays and an extraordinary incident at short notice overshadowed the match. Although the Proteas had already sealed the series 2-1, West Indies saved the day with a thrilling six-run win via the DLS method in a match that turned into a chaotic shootout.

Rain turns the SA vs WI match into a stop-start thriller

Persistent rain delayed the start of play by almost two hours, eventually reducing the match to 16 overs per side. West Indies made a brisk start and were 66 for one after six overs when another hour-long rain delay intervened. That stoppage further shortened the game to just 10 overs per side, forcing both teams into all-out aggression.

Despite the constant disruptions, the visitors adapted quickly, knowing they had nothing to lose after conceding the series.

Shai Hope and Hetmyer power West Indies to 114/3

West Indies posted a competitive 114 for three in their revised 10 overs, powered by a destructive partnership between captain Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer. Hope led from the front with a flowing 48 from 25 balls, while Hetmyer remained unbeaten with 48 from just 22 deliveries.

The duo launched a brutal attack, clearing the ropes ten times. One of Hetmyer’s towering sixes even hit a spectator lying on his back in the stands. The moment turned lighthearted as the fan immediately stood up and applauded, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The chase in South Africa starts quickly and then unravels

With a DLS adjusted target of 125, South Africa started their chase aggressively. Quinton de Kock hit 18 runs from the opening, raising hopes of another successful chase. However, the momentum quickly changed when captain Aiden Markram was caught attempting a pull shot in the second over.

De Kock soon followed for 28 off 14 balls, and the innings spiraled as Ryan Rickelton (15) and Dewald Brevis (17) departed in quick succession. Spinner Gudakesh Motie struck three times in the space of eight balls, leaving South Africa struggling to rebuild.

Jason Smith injected new hope with a powerful eighth over of 20 runs, keeping the chase alive. South Africa went into the final needing 16 runs to win, with tension building under the lights of Johannesburg.

The equation was reduced to nine runs off three balls when Smith found the boundary, but the drama was far from over.

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Corbin Bosch’s broken bat and short run steal the spotlight at Wanderers

The decisive moment came on the fifth ball of the ninth over. Shamar Joseph delivered a full ball to Corbin Bosch, who tried to make a high shot. The bat snapped at the handle mid-swing, sending the ball high toward the long-on.

Rovman Powell dropped the catch, but chaos ensued. Bosch tried to ground the broken bat – without the handle – over the crease. Bizarrely, he held the knife in one hand and the handle in the other, but failed to get a good grip. The officials ruled it a short run, costing South Africa a crucial point in the final moments.

Off the last delivery, Bosch could only manage one, while Joseph fired a full delivery onto middle stump. West Indies held their nerve to take victory by six runsending South Africa’s winning run in the series on a dramatic note.

West Indies end T20I series against South Africa on a winning note 😊#cricket #SAvWI #3eT20I pic.twitter.com/TOfrs2qiVA

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 1, 2026

For his brilliance with the ball, West Indies left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was named Player of the Match.

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