South Africa won the first match played at Barbados by 40 runs heading toward their first ever series win over West Indies.
West Indies won the toss and decided to bowl first and the start was great for them as Shamilia Connell got dangerous Lizelle Lee for 0. After early blow South Africa moved their inning at slow and steady pace without losing any wicket, Sune Luus led the innings with her half century and with Laura Wolvaardt (45 off 83) added 99 runs together before the later got caught by Dottin. Coming to the 30th over the run rate was below 4 and in order to increase the run rate South Africa lost their two main batswomen Sune Luus and experienced Mignon du Preez. After that all the weights were on shoulders of captain Dane vane Niekerk and she managed to hold on one end till the end and made 46 runs whereas quick 23 by Chloe Tyron helped their team to reach fighting 201 runs in the end. West Indies leader Stafaine Taylor took 3 wickets, Deandra Dottin managed 2 and Shamilia Connell also took one.
West Indies were happy to restrict Proteas to 201 and were ready to chase down the target but they got horrible start. Hayley Matthews got out on duck and then they lost their backbone, their Captain Stefaine Taylor ( 6 off 23) who got hunted by debutant Tumi Sekhukhune. Kycia Knight and Cheadon Nation tried to build a partnership but Tumi Sekhukhune clean bowled Cheadon Nation (10 off 19 ). Consequently pressure rose on West Indies and Wicket kept falling on regular intervals , they lost Kycia in the 18th over and then Deandra Dottin (19 off 21 ) in the 24th over. They both got good start but were not able to capitalize. Only Shemaine Campbelle put some fight with her 46 but no one gave her support except Anisa Mohammed who held on for a moment but in the end they found themselves were 40 runs short . Ace South African pacer Marizanne Kapp took 3 wickets and only gave 14 runs in her 9 overs. Whereas Sekhukhune and Zintle Mali got 2-2 wickets each.
Sune Luus was given Man of the Match award for her Half Century.
Marizanne Kapp become 3rd South African to take 100 or more wickets in ODI.
Still there are two more matches in this series and anything is possible.
Both will try to come strong in the second match leaving behind all the mistakes they made in the first encounter. Opening partnership will be important as that is what give a team good base for big total. Lizelle Lee and Hayley Mathews needs to come with all guns blazing. Moreover Stefaine Taylor must make runs if West Indies wants to win. Further West Indies failed to make partnerships in middle overs which caused them the first match, many got good starts but were not able to make it big. So that will be the area they need to look after. At last bowling department was impressive for both the sides and it will not be of much concern.
So Host West Indies will give everything they had in order to level the series and get some crucial points in ICC Women’s Championship.
Schedule for next Two matches:
Sep 19, Wed
Windies Women vs South Africa Women, 2nd ODI (ICC Championship match)
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
7:00 PM
01:30 PM GMT / 09:30 AM LOCAL
Sep 22, Sat
Windies Women vs South Africa Women, 3rd ODI (ICC Championship match)
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
11:30 PM
06:00 PM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL