West Indies went 1 -0 up after first T20 match of the series where Captain Stafanie Taylor’s 3 wicket haul helped her team to defend 124 runs.
West Indies once again won the toss and decided to bat first to keep the momentum going which they had picked up in the last match of the ODI series.
Meanwhile South Africa came to field with 4 debutants Robyn Searle, Faye Tunnicliffe, Tumi Sekhukhune and Saraah Smith leaving behind regular captain Dane van Niekerk and in form Sune Luus which proved costly.
Windies started pretty well before they lost last match hero Hayley Matthews to Zintle Mali. Natasha McLean played a steady 38 runs inning whereas Captain Stafanie Taylor struggled on other end to move the scoreboard and was bowled out by debutant Saarah Smith which might be a dream come true for her. Later she clean bowled McLean in her next over. Two more wickets felled in the middle overs before Deandra Dottin came to rescue once again with her aggressive 21 whereas two 14’s by Kycia Knight and keeper Merrisa helped the host to reach descent 124 runs. Debutant Saarah Smith and ZIntle Mali each got 2 wickets and Kapp and Sekhkhune shared 1-1 wickets.
In response the South African openers once again failed to make a mark , Lizelle Lee and Laura Woolvardt got out in 1st and 4th over. Shamilia Connell continued her form and good bowling in the powerplay’s . Stafanie Taylor came early to bowl alongside pacers to put debutant Robyn Searle under lot of pressure who failed to rotate strike and got stuck on one end and just managed to make 14 off 30 balls .Other debutant Fayne Tunnicliffe also failed to impress . Whereas experience campaigners Chloe Tyron and Mignon Du Preez put the chase on track again with their 23 and 12 before their innings were ended by Afy Fletcher . Further Proteas team failed to accelerate in the end ,Marizanne Kapp came with a quick fire 30 ( including a six) but wasn’t enough to get her team past the 124 run mark. Stafanie Taylor pick 3 crucial wickets for her team.
Brief scores:
West indies Women 124/6 in 20 overs (Natasha McLean 38, Deandra Dottin 22; Zintle Mali 2-24, Saarah Smith 2-18)
South Africa Women 107/7 in 20 overs (Chloe Tyron 23, Marizanne Kapp 30; Stafanie Taylor 3-16, Afy Fletcher 2-17)
Natasha McLean was declared Player of the Match.
South Africa tried new combination keeping the World Cup in sight, no doubt the inexperience in the middle overs was evident but they will be keen to improve in the 2nd T20 which will be played on Saturday in Tarouba, Trinidad.