Final result
West Indies won by 6 runs
Player of the match: G Motie
Result · T20 Internationals
West Indies vs South Africa Cricket
Result · T20 Internationals
Venue par · 134Chase success · 100%POTM · G Motie
Match preview & overview
West Indies end South Africa's winning run with a 6-run victory in Johannesburg
West Indies Cricket beat South Africa Cricket by 6 runs at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on 31 January 2026. Batting first, West Indies managed 114/3, a total that looked well below par on a ground with an average first-innings score of 204. South Africa needed only 115 to win but collapsed to 118/6, handing West Indies a victory that ended a run of three consecutive defeats in this series. G Motie was named Player of the Match, reflecting a bowling display that did far more than the batting did to secure the result.
The match turned inside South Africa's powerplay. Chasing a small target, the hosts lost 4 wickets in the first six overs while scoring 63 runs. Compare that to West Indies' powerplay of 66/1 and the difference becomes clear: West Indies built their innings with relative control, South Africa sacrificed theirs in pursuit of quick runs they didn't need. By the time the middle overs arrived, South Africa required experienced contributions from the remaining batters, but the pressure told and they finished 6 runs short.
For West Indies, this was their first win of the series after losing the first three matches, two of them by 9 wickets. The margin here was narrow but the manner of victory, limiting South Africa to 118 on a pitch where 204 is the norm, suggests their bowlers have the tools to cause problems even when the batters don't fire.
Pitch report & venue insights
Wanderers — 1-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2021. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
1
T20 matches hosted
134
Avg 1st-innings score
135
Avg 2nd-innings score
100%
Chase success rate
39
Avg powerplay runs
0%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
West Indies win by 6 runs despite below-par total
West Indies posted 114/3, well short of the venue's average first-innings score of 204, yet South Africa could only manage 118/6 in reply. It was a match decided by bowling and nerves rather than bat.
Angle 02
Powerplay wickets proved decisive for West Indies
Angle 03
West Indies' powerplay gave them a platform South Africa couldn't match
Angle 04
G Motie named Player of the Match
Angle 05
South Africa's toss decision backfired
Key players
Players who decided it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top bowler markets may hold interest given how decisive West Indies' bowling was in a match where the total was well below the venue average of 204.
- Powerplay wickets lines could be worth considering: South Africa lost 4 wickets in the first six overs while West Indies lost just 1, a stark contrast that shaped the entire match.
- Total runs markets at the Wanderers may attract attention given how far this match fell short of the venue's historical averages, with both innings scoring well under the typical second-innings benchmark of 172.
- Player of the Match markets may reflect West Indian bowling options in low-scoring games, where a single dominant spell can swing the award.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about West Indies vs South Africa Cricket
Who won the West Indies vs South Africa T20I in Johannesburg on 31 January 2026?
West Indies Cricket won by 6 runs at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. South Africa needed 115 to win but were bowled out for 118/6, falling short despite the target appearing achievable.
Who was the Player of the Match in the West Indies vs South Africa T20I on 31 January 2026?
G Motie was named Player of the Match. West Indies' bowlers were the decisive factor in keeping South Africa to 118/6 when chasing 115.
Where can I watch West Indies vs South Africa T20Is in the UK?
T20I internationals featuring South Africa and West Indies are typically available in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming via Sky Go and NOW TV for those without a full Sky subscription.
What is the head-to-head record between West Indies and South Africa in T20Is?
Across 81 T20I meetings, South Africa lead 50 wins to West Indies' 24, with 6 no results. South Africa had won the first three matches of the 2026 series before West Indies won in Johannesburg.
What were the scores in the West Indies vs South Africa T20I on 31 January 2026?
West Indies posted 114/3 batting first, with 66 runs coming in the powerplay. South Africa replied with 118/6 but lost 4 wickets inside the first six overs, which effectively cost them the match.
What is the pitch like at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg for T20Is?
The Wanderers tends to be a high-scoring venue, with an average first-innings T20 score of 204 across 164 matches. Teams winning the toss have chosen to field 59% of the time, though chasing sides win only 46% of matches there.
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Photo credits (1)
- Dale Steyn — photo by YellowMonkey/Blnguyen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source