PAARL, South Africa, CMC – Teenager Deandra Dottin thumped a typically aggressive half century that spurred West Indies to a narrow two-run victory in the third Women’s Twenty20 International and a series whitewash of hosts South Africa yesterday.
Sent to bat at Boland Bank Park, West Indies struggled to a flimsy 97 all out off 19.2 overs but used a diligent bowling performance to restrict South Africa’s reply to 95 for six off 20 overs.
Amid a wretched batting effort by West Indies, Barbadian Dottin sparkled with her top score of 52 off just 36 balls.
There was no other score in double figures in the West Indies innings, with Shanel Daley (9) and rookie Britney Cooper (7) the next highest scorers.
Largely below par on the tour, Dottin exploded with an explosive knock – her highest score and only half-century on the trip — that singlehandedly propped up the West Indies batting.
The 18-year-old imposingly slammed two fours and six in a 20-run opening over.
The powerful former CARIFTA Games, shot put, discus and javelin gold medallist, cracked six fours and two sixes in a strike rate of 144.44 that set the platform for a West Indies win.
Ashlyn Kilowan (3-20) and Marcia Letsoalo (2-16) led the bowling for South Africa, who suffered similar batting problems when they chased 98 for victory.
Captain Alicia Smith (44) and Kirstie Thomson (32) were the only batters getting to double figures while part-time bowler Chedean Nation claimed two for 14 off four overs to lead the West Indies bowling.
Pacer Shakera Selman and off-spinner Anisa Mohammed, each bagging one for 10, and medium pacer Stacy-Ann King (1-27) were the other wicket-takers for West Indies, who had already clinched the series with a 13-run victory in the second match on Monday.
King delivered a stiff final over that began with South Africa needing 12 runs to win.
The result gave the Caribbean side some measure of revenge after losing a competitive four-match ODI series 2-1, with the fourth ODI ending in a tie.
The West Indies women will now return home to face touring England in a six-match series — three ODIs and three T20 Internationals — in St Kitts from November 4-12.
