Proteas go down to West Indies in opening T20I in Centurion

The Windies skipper struck an unbeaten 43 off just 18 balls as the visitors chased down a target of 132 with three balls to spare in a game that was reduced to 11 overs per side due to rain.

Sisanda Magala had kept the Proteas in the contest with figures of 3-21 in his two overs while fast bowler Anrich Nortje was outstanding, only going for 17 runs in three overs.

Powell, batting at number five, played the crucial knock though just when it seemed like the home side were taking the edge hesding into the dying stages.

The Windies captain turned the game in the eighth over when he took a total of 25 runs off spinner Bjorn Fortuin.

Brendan King gave the Caribbean outfit a fast start in the run-chase with 23 in just eight balls while Johnson Charles was the other major contributor with 28 from 14 deliveries.

The game started after a delay of two hours with Powell winning the toss and understandably opting to bowl first under gloomy skies.

The Proteas then got off to the worst possible start with the bat when Quinton de Kock was out first ball to left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.

The hosts kept losing wickets regularly in-between a flurry of boundaries and found themselves in a spot of bother at 76-6 in the ninth over.

David Miller though resurrected things with the willow and struck a belligerent knock of 48 off 22 balls while Magala gave good support with a five-ball cameo that produced 18.

Miller was eventually out with two balls of the innings remaining with the Proteas reaching a respectable 131-8 in their 20 overs that ultimately wasn't enough.

The teams will dust themselves off quickly as the second game in the three-match takes place at the same venue on Sunday.