After 6 overs,West Indies 43/0 ( Lendl Simmons 5 , Evin Lewis 35)
Impressive start in the powerplay phase for the West Indies, with Evin Lewis charging against the Proteas bowlers by going for the big shots. Anrich Nortje with his first over, but concedes a boundary with Lewis smashing over mid-off for a four. Seven runs off the over.
After 5 overs,West Indies 36/0 ( Lendl Simmons 4 , Evin Lewis 30)
Markram continues, and he concedes another expensive over for the Proteas. Lewis continues running riot, with back-to-back sixes, followed by a four. 18 runs coming off the over, and Lewis is into his 30s.
After 4 overs,West Indies 18/0 ( Lendl Simmons 4 , Evin Lewis 12)
An expensive second over from Kagiso Rabada 12 runs coming from it. Evin Lewis with a four and a six in the fourth and fifth balls to bring some cheer for the Windies.
FOUR! Lewis capitalises on Rabada’s slower ball and extra width to find Windies’ first boundary of the match. Slammed it over backward point
After 3 overs,West Indies 6/0 ( Lendl Simmons 3 , Evin Lewis 1)
Cautious start from openers Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis, with neither yet to clear the boundary. The two will look to gradually build momentum, and will hope to avoid losing early wickets.
Time for LIVE action. National anthems of both countries are done, and Aiden Markram with the new ball. Lendl Simmons on strike, with Evin Lewis at the other end.
West Indies playing XI: Kieron Pollard(captain),Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Hayden Walsh, Ravi Rampaul
South Africa playing XI: Temba Bavuma(captain), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje
Toss update: Temba Bavuma has won the coin toss and South Africa will bowl first.
Ian Bishop at the pitch report in Dubai: “This surface here as we stand on it right now looks to have enough grass, not a lot of grass. It is cut very low and it is right across a very hard surface. It looks really firm and should be a good cricket surface. There won’t be any dew that means the conditions will be equal through both innings. South Africa’s pacers bowled a lot of back of a length against Australia and will look to do the same against West Indies.”
Chris Gayle’s recent struggles with the bat have not undermined his status as a West Indian great who can work wonders at the Twenty20 World Cup, assistant coach Roddy Estwick said on Monday.
“Chris has been a wonderful servant for West Indies cricket. We still expect great things from him,” said Estwick, who is a former Barbados player.
Click here to read more on Estwick’s comments ahead of the South Africa clash.