HENDRICKS AND SHEPHERD STEAL THE SHOW AS WEST INDIES SECURE T20I SERIES WIN

Reeza Hendricks and Romario Shepherd delivered excellent performances with bat and ball respectively in the second T20I between the Proteas and West Indies to remind the Joburg Super Kings of their class and ability ahead of the Betway SA20 auction October 1 auction.

Both players were released by the Super Kings for Season 3, but could still be picked up in the auction again particularly after their performances in Tarouba, Trinidad.

Shepherd is a case in point after the Super Kings released the West Indies all-rounder after Season 1, only for him to return to Wanderers for Season 2 after the auction.

Hendricks struck a breezy 18-ball 44 (6x4; 2x6; SR 244) but it was Shepherd that delivered the Player of the Match performance with 3/15 to precipitate a Proteas' collapse as the visitors were bundled out for 149 in pursuit of 180 for victory.

The 30-run win sealed a third consecutive T20I series victory for the Windies' over the Proteas.

The Super Kings head into the auction with a purse of R3.925 million to spend on three players with two possible overseas signings still remaining.

The Wanderers-based side currently only have one seam bowling all-rounder in former Proteas and Namibian international David Wiese after trading Dayyaan Galiem to the Paarl Royals for wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi which could bring Shepherd back into the equation.

It could, however, be a harder sell for Hendricks as the Super Kings have topped up their top-order batting options considerably with the new pre-signings of New Zealand’s Devon Conway and England’s Jonny Bairstow along with the retention of captain Faf du Plessis and Leus du Plooy.

The Super Kings have previously shown they are willing to release high-profile batters after former Proteas white-ball batter Janneman Malan was discarded after Season 1.

Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming will also be pleased with the performance of seamer Lizaad Williams, who returned to the Proteas starting XI at the expense of his JSK teammate Nandre Burger.

The 30-year-old fast bowler returned figures of 3/35 earlier in the day, picking up the big wickets of opener Alick Athanaze, Nicholas Pooran and Windies skipper Romvan Powell.

The third and final match of the series will be played on Tuesday at the Brian Lara Stadium where the Proteas will be hoping to avoid a consecutive 3-0 clean sweep to the Windies.