South Africa levelled the five-match CG Insurance T20 Series against the West Indies on Sunday (June 27) when they defeated the home side by 16 runs in Game 2 at the Grenada National Stadium.

Batting first and scoring 166-7, slightly better than their score of 160-7 in the first match on Friday, the Proteas seemed set to lose their second match in a row.

However, their spinners came to their rescue as George Linde and Tabraiz Shamsi took three wickets for 35 runs between them and restrict the home side to 150-9, despite some big hitting from Fabian Allen, who smashed 34 from just 12 balls. Three of his five sixes were smashed in the final over bowled by Lungi Ngidi, who took 1-49.

Andre Fletcher also scored 35 for the West Indies but those runs were made in 36 balls as he failed to capitalise on his stay at the crease even as his team was losing wickets at the other end where Evin Lewis was bowled by Anrich Norte for 21 and Kagiso Rabada had Gayle was caught for 8 off a leading edge.

Linde (2-19) and Shamsi (1-16) then combined to dismiss Nicholas Pooran for 9, Captain Kieron Pollard for just one and Andre Russell for 5 as the West Indies slumped to 70-5.

Jason Holder and Allen helped revive the innings and saved the West Indies the embarrassment of a massive defeat. Holder was run out for 20.

Earlier, South Africa looked set for a large total on the back of an opening stand of 73 by Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock. Kevin Sinclair (2-23) broke the partnership when he had de Kock caught behind for 26. With the score at 96, Sinclair trapped Hendricks lbw for 42.

Captain Temba Bavuma made 46 but the intervention of Obed McCoy, who took 3-25, restricted South Africa at the death.

Pollard said the batting let the team down after their bowlers did a great job for the second game running.

“We know South Africa would come hard. It was just a matter of bowling good balls, and we were pretty happy with 166. It was a matter of playing smart cricket,” he said.

“We lost three wickets from the seventh to the 11th over. We are not going to hide away from the fact, but will continue to play aggressive cricket because that is our strength. McCoy taking the responsibility of bowling the death overs matters, lot of positives for us.”

South Africa’s skipper was in a better mood, saying his bowlers stepped up following another underwhelming performance with the bat.

“(The) guys came with an open mind, and had to be brave,” he said.

“We have been good in the first six overs, but in the end, we weren’t able to capitalise. All in all, the score we put on was a par score. Shamsi and George were amazing; for a captain, it makes things a lot easier. We always go to our pace bowlers, and the conditions needed to mix it up.”

Linde, who was named Man of the Match, said his success with the ball was down to focusing on doing the simple things well.

“I just went back to the basics, and it worked for me,” he said.

“It was my day, and Shamsi has been exceptional for us. We had a hard look at ourselves, and luckily today, it worked for us. Today it (the pitch) was a lot slower and turned as well, and I’m always happy with that.”

The teams are set to meet again on Tuesday.