South Africa Women maul West Indies to claim ODI series
An all-round dominant performance from South Africa’s women on Tuesday at the 3 W’s Oval, in spite of frequent showers, allowed the visitors to clinch the 3-match One Day International (ODI) series, 2-1.
The series decider was perfectly set up on Tuesday, after West Indies and South Africa won the first and second games, respectively, on Wednesday and Saturday last.
The hosts won the toss on Tuesday morning and opted to bowl first, allowing the Proteas Women to seize control of the contest with a competitive score of 278-6 in 45.5 overs.
Tazmin Brits led the onslaught for the visitors with a century (101 in 91 deliveries), laced with 8 fours and 4 sixes. Fellow opener Laura Wolvaardt also got a half-century (75 in 76 balls) for a 184-run first wicket stand that frustrated the hosts.
Tazmin Brits slammed a century (Photo credit: Cricket South Africa)
When Afy Fletcher finally broke the stand, the West Indies were able to loosen up the reins with three wickets in close succession.
Nondumiso Shangase and Sune Luus both went cheaply, but Marizanne Kapp steadied the ship once again for the Proteas, hitting an unbeaten 34 in 42 balls. A few other small contributions at the end got South Africa well past the 250-run mark.
Afy Fletcher finished with 3-53 from 10 overs.
Several more rain interruptions to follow saw West Indies’ target being revised to 298 needed in 45 overs through the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (DLS) method and further to 288 in 39 overs.
South Africa’s bowlers steamrolled over West Indies’ batters (Photo credit: Cricket South Africa)
The chase was a rocky one for the hosts, who, at one point, found it difficult to get to double figures. The entire top four – Hayley Matthews (8), Qiana Joseph (1), Zaida James (1) and Chinelle Henry (1) – were all unable to get past ten, with Guyanese wicketkeeper/batter Shemaine Campbelle breaking the jinx with a 29-ball 12.
However, the duo of Aaliyah Alleyne and Jahzara Claxton saved the Maroon Women from absolute embarrassment, combining for a 65-run partnership. Alleyne got to a hard-fought 32 in 49 balls, consisting of a single boundary, before the partnership was broken by Masabata Klaas. Claxton, on the other hand, missed out on bringing up her maiden ODI half-century, falling 7 runs short of the milestone.
The West Indies’ women were eventually routed for 121 in 27.5 overs.
Masabata Klaas was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4-25 in 6 overs. Both Nonkululeko Mlaba and Annerie Dercksen picked up 2 wickets apiece.
The teams will now shift their attention to the shorter format, the first game of which will bowl off at 14:00 hrs on Friday, June 20, at the same venue.
