CAVE HILL, Barbados, CMC – A dominant all-round display from South Africa Women secured a 40-run victory over West Indies Women in a high-scoring encounter at the 3WS Oval on Saturday, leveling the three-match ODI series at 1-1.
Opting to bowl first on a sunny day at the UWI Cave Hill campus, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews saw South Africa post a formidable 309-9 in their 50 overs.
The tourists’ batting lineup fired collectively, with Sune Luus leading the charge with a brisk 76 off 65 balls, including eight fours.
Nondumiso Shangase provided strong support with a 48-ball 55, while contributions from Annerie Dercksen 37, Marizanne Kapp 32, and captain Laura Wolvaardt 28 bolstered the total.
Afy Fletcher was the standout bowler for the hosts, claiming 4-64 with her leg spin, while Matthews chipped in with 2-47.
It did not go South Africa’s way in the early stages, as some disciplined bowling from first, Matthews, and then Fletcher had the visitors in a spot of bother at 59 for two in the 19th over.
Aided by some sloppy fielding, the South Africans, led by Luss and Shangase, capitalized and posted an 85-run third-wicket partnership.
Shangase, who hit two sixes in her innings, went on to score her maiden ODI half-century, bringing up the milestone off 42 balls.
All this time, Luss continued her aggressive approach, and she got to 50 off 49 balls. The right-hander also shared in a couple of beneficial lower-order partnerships, which saw the Proteas women climb over the 300-run mark.
In reply, the West Indies tried to stay in touch with the run rate, which was just above six runs per over, and they were looking good with 40 runs on the board in the seventh over before Qiana Joseph was given out caught behind off Kapp for 17.
Releanna Grommnd joined her captain, Matthews, and they took the score to 80 before Grimmond was caught behind for 15.
Matthews went on to top-score with a fluent 56, but she went softly in the 20th over to leave the home side in a spot of bother at 107 for three.
Vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle added a composed 53, but the middle order struggled to build momentum as the over 300-plus target began to look insurmountable by the minute.
Chinelle Henry’s 39 offered hope, but South Africa’s bowlers kept striking at key moments as Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba starred with 4-33, while Kapp’s seamers yielded 2-42 to bowl out the hosts with the last delivery of the innings at 269.
With the regional side getting their highest ODI total against South Africa, captain Matthews was pleased with the all-around effort as a batting unit.
“I still think we can take a lot of positives out of it for sure. Chasing 309 was always going to be a hard task, but I think for us to get to 260 plus was quite impressive. I was also pleased with the way we got there with so many batters chipping in, and I guess not just relying on one or two players was good to see.”
The series now heads into a decisive third ODI at the same venue on Tuesday, with Matthews eager to get a few more things right in a bid to clinch the series.
“I think we were outstanding in areas and periods today (Saturday). Probably, we need to be good for a bit longer, especially within the bowling innings. I feel like we definitely hit par with the bat and went through our innings well. Probably, we need to try to restrict the opposition a bit less next match. That’s going to put us in the better chance.”
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