PORT OF SPAIN – The Proteas Women held their nerve and clinched a three-wicket victory over West Indies in a nail-biting fifth and final T20 International at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday (Sunday overnight SA time).
The series ends drawn 2-2, with the third match being abandoned due to a soggy outfield.
Lizelle Lee top-scored for the visitors with a quick-fire 42 from just 24 deliveries as they successfully chased down the Windies’ 155/5 with one ball to spare.
Lee, along with her opening partner Laura Wolvaardt, got South Africa’s reply off to a solid start with a 37-run stand, before the latter edged the ball to the keeper, departing for 23 at the end of the fourth over.
Lee pressed on with Robyn Searle (14), smashing 10 boundaries as she went on the attack before her progress was halted by Afy Fletcher (1/24) in the seventh over.
Chloe Tryon and Mignon du Preez were the other notable contributors with the bat, scoring 31 (22 balls) and 25 (21) as South Africa soldiered on towards their target.
Earlier, Hayley Matthews scored an exciting 70 from just 52 deliveries to help set up her side’s competitive total.
The opening batter hit three sixes and eight boundaries as she raced to score quickly, while South Africa managed to strike at a regular rate.
Shemaine Campbelle and Natasha McLean brought up the remaining notable contributions with respective scores of 28 and 23.
Saarah Smith returned 2/24, with Tumi Sekhukhune (1/19), Zintle Mali (1/21) and Masabata Klaas (1/33) returning a scalp each.
Today’s victory brings a positive end to the tour for the visitors, and will give them good momentum going into the ICC Women’s World T20 to be held in the West Indies in November.
The look on your face when you can’t believe you’ve just scored the winning runs for your country! Take a bow Saarah Smith! Congratulations to the #ProteasWomen on their 3-wicket victory to draw the series. #AlwaysRising pic.twitter.com/T56Daq8UYF
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) October 7, 2018