CAPE TOWN, South Africa, CMC – Another lower order collapse condemned West Indies Women to a four-run defeat to South Africa Women in their third and final Twenty20 International and a 2-1 series loss here yesterday.
Chasing an uncomplicated 120 for victory at Newlands, West Indies Women were sailing at 81 for three in the 15th over at one stage before losing five wickets for 16 runs in the space of 18 deliveries, to end on 115 for eight off their 20 overs.
They required 12 runs off the final over but came up short as Shamalia Connell (13 not out) and Anisa Mohammed (five not out), failed to find the boundary.
Deandra Dottin and opener Hayley Matthews both top-scored with 24 while captain Stafanie Taylor got 23 but they were just three of four batsmen to reach double figures.
Off-spinner Yolanie Fourie was the best bowler with two for 20 from four her four overs.
Winning the toss and batting, the Proteas Women were carried by Lizelle Lee who struck an unbeaten 33, captain Mignon du Preez who scored 32 and Marizanne Kapp who finished on 24 not out.
Opener Dane van Niekerk chipped in with 23.
West Indies Women struck early when speedster Connell bowled Trisha Chetty without scoring in the second over with a single run on the board.
Du Preez and van Niekerk than patched up the innings with a 48-run stand, with the right-handed du Preez facing 37 balls and counting three fours and van Niekerk striking three fours in a 26-ball knock.
When both fell within 19 runs of each other to leave the hosts on 65 for three in the 13th over, Kapp and Lee put on 54 in an unbroken fourth wicket partnership to ensure their side a strong finish.
Lee faced 23 deliveries and counted a four and two sixes while Kapp registered a single boundary off 35 deliveries.
In reply, West Indies Women lost Kycia Knight for three at 15 for one in the third over, lbw to left-arm seamer Moseline Daniels.
Taylor and Matthews then revived the innings in a 32-run stand before Fourie claimed the first of her two wickets when she had Matthews brilliantly caught by Daniels, leaping one-handed on the backward square boundary at 47 for two in the ninth over.
Taylor followed ten runs later, bowled around her legs after missing a sweep at leg-spinner van Niekerk and but Dottin quickly counter-attacked in a 24-run fourth wicket stand with Kyshone Knight (9).
Dottin smashed a four and two sixes off 18 balls and looked be changing the course of the innings when she holed out to long on with seamer Masabata Klaas.
Her dismissal triggered a slide and West Indies Women were unable to recover.
The Caribbean side will now turn their attention to the Twenty20 Women’s World Cup in India from March 15 to April 3.