West Indies Women cricketers took an early lead in the three-match One-Day International series with South Africa Women, powering to victory by four wickets under the Duckworth Lewis Stern Method with two overs remaining while chasing a revised target of 180 from 34 overs yesterday.
Player Of The Match, Quiana Joseph belted ten fours and a six in a match-winning 60 off 58 balls as she and captain Hayley Matthews laid a sturdy platform in an opening stand of 88 from 14 overs in reply to the South Africans’ 232-9.
Matthews, making a return to the team after missing the final two games of the recently-concluded T20 series in England because of injury, won the toss and invited the visitors to bat in overcast conditions at the 3Ws Oval.
The Proteas, too, were given a healthy start by their opening pair, captain Laura Wolvaart and Tazmin Brits, who put on 73 in 15.5 overs. The partnership was broken by slick work in the field from Realeanna Grimmond, whose sharp, accurate return to wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbell found Wolvaart short of her ground as the pair attempted a second run.
Brits carried on to be the eventual top-scorer after bringing up a halfcentury off 57 balls, reaching the landmark with a four and a six off consecutive deliveries from legspinner Afy Fletcher.
She lost yet another partner by the run out route when No. 3, Nondumiso Shangase fell with the total on 94.
The innings went into further decline as Brits herself holed out in the deep to give off-spinner Karishma Ramharack the first of two wickets for 44 runs. The innings of 57 spanned 65 balls.
All-rounder Nadine de Klerk led a lower-order revival, stroking an enterprising 42 with three fours and two sixes off 38 balls before becoming the ninth wicket to fall.
Aaliyah Alleyne (two for 35) returned the best bowling figures for the Windies Women.
Volley of powerful strokes
Left-hander Joseph and Matthews started steadily before unleashing a volley of powerful strokes to snatch the initiative for the hosts, and Matthews’ dismissal, against the run of play, prompted a deceleration in the scoring rate.
Grimmond, coming at No. 3, struggled in making five off 18 deliveries but former captain Stafanie Taylor held the middle order together despite also losing Chinelle Henry just before a sudden shower forced a lengthy interruption that saw the loss of some 16 overs and reduced the target to 180 from 34 overs.
Resuming from 128-4 with 51 runs required from 52 balls, Taylor and Campbelle pushed the West Indies ahead with some crafty shots and running between the wickets, with the former shepherding the team to victory in front of an appreciative crowd of home supporters that grew to healthy proportions by the end.
Matthews, who made 40 off 44 balls, struck four fours and a six, while Taylor’s steadying innings included two boundaries and a maximum from 34 balls faced.
Pacer Ayanda Hlubi, though conceding 50 runs from seven overs, picked up three wickets to be the best of the South African bowlers on show, while the more experienced Ayabonga Khaka, de Klerk, and spinner Chloe Tryon all went wicketless.
The series continues on Saturday with the second match at the same venue. (WH)
The post WI Women win appeared first on nationnews.com.