Pride News Canada's Leader In African Canadian & Caribbean News, Views & Lifestyle
DURBAN, South Africa, Mar 4, (CMC) – The West Indies women’s cricket team failed to overcome a poor start to an uncomplicated run chase, and tumbled to an 11-run defeat to South Africa women’s cricket team in their opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series here, Friday.
In pursuit of a 126-run score at Kingsmead, the Windies Women plunged to 16 for four in the fifth over, before ending on 114 for six off their 20 overs.
Experienced right-hander, Deandra Dottin, struck a top score of 40. (File photo).
Right-hander, Deandra Dottin, extended her good form with a top score of 40, while Stacey-Ann King chipped in with 29.
Seamer, Shabnim Ismail, voted Player-of-the-Match, claimed three for 12 after knocking over the top order.
Captain, Stafanie Taylor, fell for four in the third over, while Hayley Matthews perished off the next delivery to suffer the indignity of a first-ball ‘duck’, as Ismail left West Indies Women tottering on 13 for two.
The Knight twins, Kyshona and Kycia, followed cheaply in successive overs, leaving Dottin and King to stitch up the innings with a 72-run, fifth wicket stand.
Dottin was superb, striking a four and four sixes off 31 deliveries, while King was more patient in her 37-ball knock, which included four fours.
The partnership appeared to have put West Indies Women back on course for victory when leg-spinner, Dane van Niekerk, who finished with two for 19, knocked over both Dottin and King, within the space of five deliveries in the 16th over.
Shemaine Campbelle, with 16 not out from 15 balls and Shaquana Quintyne, 10 not out from 11 deliveries, then tried to see their side home in an unbroken 25-run, seventh run stand but the effort proved in vain.
Lizelle Lee had earlier stroked 35 from 32 balls, with two fours and two sixes, while opener, van Niekerk, hit 22 from 18 balls with two fours, to rally the hosts’ innings.
Van Niekerk put on 41 with Trisha Chetty for the first wicket before both fell, as three wickets tumbled for nine runs, to leave the score on 50 for three in the ninth over.
Lee and Marizanne Kapp then gave the innings momentum with a 48-run, fifth wicket stand.
Off-spinners, Anisa Mohammed (2-23) and Hayley Matthews (2-24), picked up two wickets apiece.
West Indies Women will attempt to level the series when they take on the Proteas Women in the second game at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.
