West Indies Women will be coming with all guns blazing for the fifth and final One Day International against South Africa Women today to avoid a series whitewash on home soil.
In the four matches so far, South Africa Women have only lost a total of 11 wickets, acing their three chasing innings and negotiating comfortably against the hosts in the lone match they batted first.
The West Indies Women bowlers are yet to find an answer for Lizelle Lee who has made 187 runs from three innings including two half-centuries, which feature a best of 91 not out.
Like Lee, 22-year-old Laura Wolvaardt has also reached a half century on two occasions and has a best of 71 not out.
On the contrary, West Indies Women have had their share of troubles with their batting. Their highest score so far is 157 while their lowest total sits at 120. Only once they would have batted their full quota.
South Africa women’s captain, Dane Van Niekerk has led from the front with ball in hand. The leg-spinner has so far bagged seven wickets while her fellow leggie, Sune Luus has five wickets. Seam trio, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail have 15 wickets among them.
Deandra Dottin has been the lone West Indian with a half century. The dominant all-rounder has 132 runs so far and the hosts would be banking on her to deliver with the bat.
Rashada Williams has shown her intent in her two innings with scores of 37 and 42. The right-hander has been the most consistent opener for the hosts who often lose two wickets before scoring 20 runs.
West Indies Women will hope that vice-captain, Hayley Matthews could bounce back having scored just 23 runs in four innings. Shabika Gajnabi and Chedean Nation will also want to have a score under their belt to close off the series with only 22 and 21 runs respectively so far from three innings.
The hosts’ bowling also seems toothless. Qiana Joseph and interim captain, Anisa Mohammed both have three wickets while Matthews has picked up two. Cherry Ann Fraser, Aaliyah Alleyne and Shakera Selman also have one wicket under their belt.
At the end of the fourth ODI, Selman reckoned that at this stage it is just mental.
“We’ve done all the preparations we could possibly do, the coaches prepared us well, they worked really hard with us and we had lots of conversations and unfortunately we are not executing so we just have to show up and bat properly,” Selman said.
