West Indies Women lose ODI series to South Africa

Shabnim Ismail picked up four wickets as South Africa Women beat West Indies Women by six wickets in Johannesburg to seal the four-match ODI series 2-1 after the first game was washed out.

South Africa have now won each of their last five ODI series, a streak that started with a 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand in January 2020.

On Sunday, West Indies were without their regular captain Stafanie Taylor and Chedean Nation – both had suffered on-field injuries during the third ODI. In Taylor’s absence, stand-in captain Anisa Mohammed opted to bat first after winning the toss but West Indies were all out for only 174 in the 50th over.

Ismail removed Rashada Williams early before Deandra Dottin and Kycia Knight added 65 for the second wicket. It was Ismail once again who broke the stand with Dottin’s wicket. Shortly afterwards, Knight fell as well, to Chloe Tryon, leaving West Indies 104 for 3.

Two runs later, a stunning catch by Laura Wolvaardt off the bowling of Tumi Sekhukhune sent back Hayley Matthews. It was a short and wide delivery that the batter went to cut but couldn’t keep it down. Wolvaardt, standing at cover-point, threw herself to her right and plucked a one-handed catch.

The rest of the batting line-up offered little resistance, with Ayabonga Khaka and Ismail running through the lower-middle and lower order. Had it not been for an unbeaten seven-ball 15 from No. 11 Shamilia Connell West Indies would have been bundled out for an even smaller total.

Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits started the chase solidly, adding 38 in 9.1 overs. Although both the openers fell in quick succession, Andrie Steyn, who was playing her first ODI since May 2019, and Sune Luus put the chase back on track with an 88-run stand for the third wicket.

Anisa eventually dismissed both of them, Luus for 47 and Steyn for 52, but it was too late by then. Tryon wrapped up the game in the 40th over with a flurry of boundaries. (ESPNcricinfo)