SA humble WI Women in T20 World Cup opener

DUBAI, UAE (CMC):

West Indies Women endured the worst possible start to their T20 World Cup campaign when they were handed a demoralising 10-wicket lashing by South Africa Women yesterday.

Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba set the stage for the Proteas’ dominance by snagging four wickets to limit West Indies to 118 for six from their 20 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

South Africa’s opening pair of captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits then both scored unbeaten half centuries to help their side canter to 119 without loss in 17.5 overs.

It was another woeful batting performance by the Windies, with only Stafanie Taylor, who steered the way with an unbeaten 44, putting up any major resistance.

Captain Hayley Matthews made a bright start, hitting two boundaries in scoring 10, until she edged a short, wide delivery from medium pacer Marizanne Kapp behind to the wicketkeeper.

Fellow opener Qiana Joseph didn’t last much longer, with Player of the Match Mlaba bowling her through the gate after she could only muster four runs from 14 deliveries, to leave West Indies 18 for two in the fifth over.

Deandra Dottin also showed signs of brilliance, cracking three boundaries in her knock of 13 from 11 balls, but ill-advisedly tried to hit Kapp over the infield and was caught at extra cover by Wolvaardt.

Taylor added 30 runs with Shemaine Campbell in an effort to steady the innings, but Mlaba struck in consecutive deliveries to put South Africa back in control.

Campbell played back to a faster delivery and was bowled for 17, and with her next delivery Mlaba found the outside edge of Chinelle Henry’s bat, as West Indies slumped to 62 for five.

Mlaba also accounted for the wicket of Aaliyah Alleyne for seven, and it required the efforts of Taylor and teenager Zaida James to get the Windies up to their eventual total.

The two shared an unbroken 35-run partnership for the seventh wicket with James cracking two fours in her unbeaten 15 from 13 deliveries, while Taylor hit two fours and one six from 41 balls.

Mlaba ended with 4-29 from her four overs and Kapp took 2-14.

Needing to score at less than a run a ball, Wolvaardt and Brits wasted little time in stamping their authority.

After hitting a series of boundaries, they raced to 26 without loss after three overs.

From thereon, the pair was content on picking up singles and twos, while sending the occasional loose delivery to the boundary.

Wolvaardt was the first to bring up her 50 off 45 balls, when she steered Aaliyah Alleyne to deep square leg for a single in the 15th over.

Brits also brought up her half century in 45 balls in the next over, when she scrambled a single after driving Matthews to midwicket, to take the score to 104 without loss.