CUTTACK, India, CMC – West Indies Women survived a now familiar batting slump before steadying themselves to beat South Africa Women by two wickets, in their opening Super Six game of the ICC Women’s World Cup here today.
Enjoying a comfortable run chase at 173 for three in pursuit of 231 for victory, the Caribbean side suddenly lost a raft of wickets to stumble to their target in the 46th over at the Barabati Stadium.
Stafanie Taylor, batting at number three, top scored with 75 from 78 balls while opener Kycia Knight got 46 and Shemaine Campbelle, 33.
Teenaged leg-spinner Dane van Niekerk continued her success against the Windies with three for 47 while seamer Marizanne Kapp supported with two for 42.
Earlier, Trisha Chetty hit 45 and Cri-zelda Brits, 44, as South Africa were restricted to 230 for seven off 50 overs after opting to bat first.
van Niekerk finished on a brisk 33 not out off just 30 balls while captain Mignon du Preez chipped in with 31.
Right-arm pacer Treymane Smartt led the attack with two for 43 and Taylor’s ten overs of off-spin proved effective and yielded just 32 runs, even though she went wicket-less.
Yolandi Potgieter fell in the tenth over for seven as South Africa got off to a slow start at 22 for one but Chetty and du Preez repaired the damage in a 62-run, second wicket partnership.
When both perished within four overs of each other, Brits and Kapp added 40 for the fourth wicket to steady the innings.
The right-handed Brits was aggressive in striking four boundaries and two sixes off just 41 balls but was part of a slide that saw three wickets tumble for 28 runs.
It was left to van Niekerk to keep the Proteas going at the end with a an innings that included two fours and a six.
West Indies then suffered an early setback when they lost Natasha McClean for five to the eighth ball of the innings at 15 for one but Taylor and Kycia Knight posted an impressive 126 for the second wicket to put their side back on top.
The right-handed Taylor struck nine fours and a six while Kycia faced 68 balls and counted six boundaries.
However, van Niekerk accounted for both in the space of 11 balls – Kycia caught and bowled and Taylor holing out in the deep – to leave the Windies on 146 for three in the 26th over.
Deandra Dottin played the only way she knows how to, slamming four fours in a cavalier 24 from 21 balls and adding 27 for the fourth wicket with Kyshona Knight (4).
However, she paid the price for her adventure when she was brilliantly taken on the ropes at long on by Marcia Letsoalo at 173 for four, leading to another slump as Kyshona followed next over with no runs added.
Campbelle, who struck six overs in her 42-ball stay at the crease, ignored the clatter of wickets around her to carry West Indies to the brink of victory before also succumbing.
West Indies will now turn their attention to Australia in their second game on Wednesday in Mumbai.
