BRIDGETOWN – The West Indies claimed an emphatic 115-run victory over South African in the third and final ICC Women’s Championship One Day International (ODI) at Kensington Oval, in Barbados, on Saturday.
The result meant the series was drawn 1-1 after the second match was rained out.
A maiden (ODI) century by Hayley Matthews, 20, along with a half-century from Dinendra Dottin and 45 runs from captain Stefanie Taylor helped the hosts to the win.
Matthews smashed 117 runs from 146 deliveries (17x4s) and shared a match-winning 174-run partnership with Taylor, laying the groundwork to a daunting 292/5 at the end of their 50 overs after winning the toss.
Marizanne Kapp was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking 4/55 in her 10-over spell. She started at the top of the innings when she had opener Kycia Knight trapped in front for five in the third over but Matthews and Taylor blew the visitors away during their 33-over-long stand. Dottin joined the fray after the loss of Taylor and added a quick-fire 59 from just 44 balls (4x4s, 3x6s) as she and Matthews continued in the same destructive vein.
Tumi Sekhukhune (1/64) eventually removed the centurion off the last delivery of the 41st over but the damage had been done.
South Africa’s reply was not good enough in the face of the home side whose tails were up from a brilliant batting display. Lizelle Lee was the first to lose her wicket when she was caught by Dottin off Shakera Selman for two at the end of the second over. Suné Luus did not last long either, caught and bowled by Shamilia Connell for four.
Captain, Dané van Niekerk joined the remaining opener Laura Wolvaardt at the crease, sharing what looked to be a promising 109-run, fourth-wicket partnership before the latter was stumped off Affy Fletcher for 54.
From then on, Van Niekerk was a woman alone as she lost partner after partner with no one else reaching double figures until she was finally run out on 77 in the 41st over. South Africa were eventually bundled out for 177 with 7.3 overs to spare.
Dottin was the Windies’ chief destroyer, returning figures of 4/36 in her 9.3 overs.
It will be a quick turn-around time for the teams as they move to the T20 format starting on Monday, at the same venue.