South Africa 225 for 3 (de Kock 115, Rickelton 77*; Hosein 2-41) beat West Indies 221 for 4 (Hetmyer 75, Rutherford 57*; Maharaj 2-22) by seven wickets
The West Indies suffered a 7-wicket defeat to South Africa in the second T20I in Centurion on Thursday, which saw the hosts take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series. Despite setting the Proteas a sizeable target, a lull in the middle overs proved costly for a West Indian team lacking strike bowlers.
The Caribbean side started fairly ordinarily, scoring 29 runs from the first four overs for the wicket of returning captain Shai Hope (4). Shimron Hetmyer then repaid his promotion to No.3 by sharing in a 126-run partnership (from 62 balls) with Brandon King.
King targeted Anrich Nortje in the 5th, to the tune of 24 runs, hitting three 4s and two 6s, as the West Indies ended the powerplay on 68 for 1. Hetmyer had his shot at Nortje in the 10th, which he took in the form of two 6s and two 4s.They kept the run rate above 11, getting through to drinks at 115 for 1.
King fell to Kagiso Rabada at the end of the 12th for 49, and the West Indies scored just nine from the 13 deliveries that followed in the Hetmyer/Powell partnership. Rovman Powell played on Keshav Maharaj for an 8-ball two to begin the 15th before the orthodox spinner had Hetmyer caught for a 42-ball top score of 75 four deliveries later, leaving the West Indies 145 for 4.