A dramatic final over saw South Africa snatch a tie in the fourth and final women's one-day international against the West Indies at Newlands on Friday.
The West Indies needed to win to square the series, but a superb final over by Alicia Smith brought up just a single.
Windies captain Merissa Aguillera won the toss and, as has been the pattern in the series, chose to bowl first. On a greenish pitch South Africa were always struggling to maintain the pace and had to settle for a total of 180.
Mignon du Preez was the outstanding batsman. Coming in during the fifteenth over, she stayed until the end, compiling 70 runs from 110 balls with four boundaries.
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Support came from Shandre Fritz (31 off 49) and Smith (20 off 42) in successive partnerships of 55 off 91 balls for the fourth wicket and 53 off 86 for the fifth.
The hosts needed an explosive finish, which did not materialise. The batting powerplay was left for the final five overs of the innings but produced just nineteen runs.
The West Indies spinners were miserly. Shermaine Campbelle took 2/22 in her quota of 10 overs while Stafanie Taylor was even tighter, grudgingly giving away just 16 in hers. They succeeded in drying up the runs in the middle overs after a reasonable start by Trish Chetty and Kirstie Thomson.
Windies opener Deandra Dottin (34 off 29 balls) punished Shabnim Ismail early in the innings. Pamela Lavine and Cordel Jack gave her good support and the tourists were cruising at 100/2 in the 23rd over.
However, South Africa showed fighting spirit by working their way through the middle order.
Aguillera and Stacy King put the visitors back on track with a sixth wicket stand of 35 off 45 balls, and all the hard work was done, or so it seemed.
Cri-Zelda Brits made amends for some sloppy fielding by the home team with a safe catch at deep mid-on to send King packing, and with just 14 needed Aguillera was run out as the pressure built.
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