Veteran commentator Joseph “Reds” Perreira says West Indies must quickly fix their bowling after a nine-wicket defeat to South Africa in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eight Group 1 match in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday.

West Indies made 176 for eight from their 20 overs, but South Africa raced to 177 for one in 16.1 overs.

“The bowling was ragged and [head coach] Daren Sammy and company will have to look at how they can improve this bowling,” Perreira told the Jamaica Observer.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram set the tone with 82 off 46 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes. Quinton de Kock finished unbeaten on 47 off 24, while Ryan Rickelton made 45 not out off 28. Markram and de Kock added 95 for the first wicket to take control of the chase.

“Markram started so well,” Perreira said. “He was like a South African bird on a light summer day in Cape Town flowing with the wind, whereas de Kock just seemed to be a bird not feeling too well but staying there and they put together a winning partnership of 95.”

Roston Chase claimed the only wicket, ending with one for 46.

“The bowlers really came out and looking at the bowling, it was only a matter of time,” Perreira said. “But, you know, they were ragged. The big disappointment was maybe that of [fast bowler Shamar] Joseph and they need to decide whether they’ll carry him because we were hoping he would come and bowl at that length and the occasional yorker. But that’s not happening.

“Now will they pluck [pacer Jayden] Seales off the reserves bench? He hasn’t done well since New Zealand, in the shorter format, but will they try Seales, who is eager to play and chomping at the bits, as they say. Whether that will help, I don’t know. But Joseph didn’t look the part. Will he and Hosein come back, and [Gudakesh] Motie, finding a combination once more? A lot will depend on the conditions for the game against India — whether it will be a spinning track or the track might have little bit of bounce.”

Perreira also questioned the batting approach after winning five matches in a row until Thursday.

“After five-straight wins in this competition, the West Indies had their worst game today against South Africa,” he said. “A victory over South Africa would’ve done them heaps of good, would’ve put away India’s chances because of their poor net run rate.”

South Africa won the toss and sent West Indies in. The top order faltered as batsmen struggled on a surface which had a fair amount of preparation moisture at the start.

“We didn’t see any kind of relation to a plan,” Perreira said. “There seemed to be no plan other than to get themselves out.”

“Hope, for example, chased a very wide ball, caught behind. He and King both started quite nicely. King was too tucked up close to the off stump and caught behind. Hetmyer started well, with Kagiso Rabada going for the sixth over, forward square leg. But sometimes you can’t attempt too much on a pitch that probably has a bit of bounce, and trying for the same kind of result in the same over, he got a top edge and was caught by the keeper.”

Shimron Hetmyer, who made 85 off 34 balls in the win over Zimbabwe, scored two off three deliveries. Rovman Powell, who struck 59 in that match, made nine off 11 balls.

“We had a situation where Powell came in, got nine, and then hit a very ordinary ball, under no pressure, straight to the fieldsman,” Perreira said. “Rutherford, following Hetmyer, went for yet another six and caught off a top edge. [Roston] Chase, who came in in place of [Akeal] Hosein bowled off the inside edge playing him back. That would be a debate, I’m sure, by the Trinidadians and we had (Matthew) Forde going quickly — very easy, stylish pick up shot, high in the air and a soft dismissal.”

At 83 for seven, West Indies were struggling before Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder repaired the innings. Shepherd hit 52 not out off 37 balls and Holder made 49 off 31 in a partnership of 89 that lifted the total to 176 for eight. The stand was the eighth-wicket record in T20 internationals. West Indies also hit their 66th six of the tournament, a World Cup record.

“Holder and Shepherd brought a bit of sanity, brought a bit of common sense, brought a little bit of batting to the West Indies,” Perreira said. “They had a wonderful partnership of 89 and maybe if they had a much better start, they could’ve pushed based on a better start to the 190 to 200.”

“But the West Indies didn’t seem to have a plan,” Perreira said. “They discussed a plan last night and this morning, but when you go out there and you take guard, the batsmen are responsible for executing that plan and Holder and Shepherd had a plan of their own. That was one period where the West Indies looked like a competing team. Well, we our net run rate was much higher than India’s and we have to wait and see how all this will pan out.”

Hope admitted the total was short of what was needed.

“Very important to get a big score, and losing so many wickets in the powerplay cost us,” he said. “We were 40-50 runs short but I must commend the guys in the bottom half for giving us a chance.”

India’s 72-run win over Zimbabwe leaves them third on two points, level with West Indies, though with a net run rate of -0.1 compared to West Indies’ 1.791. The teams meet on Sunday with a semi-final place at stake.

West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd plays a shot during the T20 World Cup game against South Africa. (Photo: AFP)

South Africa captain Aiden Markram (right) plays a shot as West Indies captain and wicketkeeper Shai Hope reacts during the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eight match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday. (Photo: AFP)

PERREIRA… Daren Sammy and company will have to look at how they can improve this bowling (Photo: Observer file)