Qiana Joseph steered the West Indies Women to a four-wicket win (DLS method) against the Proteas Women in the opening ODI in Barbados on Wednesday.
Joseph led from the front with an explosive 60 off 58 balls, including 10 fours and a six, as the hosts chased down South Africa’s total of 232-9.
The rain-shortened run chase saw the Windies reach the revised target of 180 in just 32 overs, after the innings was reduced to 34 due to weather interruptions.
Sent in to bat first, the Proteas Women made a promising start, with openers Laura Wolvaardt (27) and Tazmin Brits (57 off 65 balls; five fours, one six) putting together a solid partnership. However, Wolvaardt was run out in the 16th over, leaving the visitors at 73-1.
Brits carried on, celebrating her second ODI half-century and becoming the second-fastest South African woman to reach 1,000 runs in the format.
But just as South Africa approached the 100-run mark, the Windies pounced. Nondumiso Shangase (two) was run out, followed by key wickets from Afy Fletcher (1-41) and Karishma Ramharack (2-44), who removed Brits and Annerie Dercksen (four), reducing the visitors to 105-4 in the 25th over.
A stabilising 40-run stand between Suné Luus (32) and Sinalo Jafta (20) gave South Africa a brief foothold, taking the total to 145-4, before Aaliyah Alleyne caught Jafta off the bowling of Windies skipper Hayley Matthews (1-44).
Further wickets from Ramharack and Alleyne (2-35) saw South Africa slip to 168-7 before a crucial 60-run partnership between Nadine de Klerk (42) and Ayabonga Khaka (18) helped reach a competitive total.
In response, the West Indies made a blistering start. Joseph and Matthews teamed up for a dominant 88-run opening partnership before Ayanda Hlubi (3-50) broke the stand, dismissing Matthews for 40.
Hlubi struck again shortly after, removing Joseph to give South Africa a glimmer of hope with the West Indies at 106-2 in the 17th over. That momentum carried briefly as Shangase (1-9) removed Realeanna Grimmond (five), and a sharp run-out sent Chinelle Henry (11) back to the pavilion.
At that point, rain interrupted play, forcing a lengthy delay. When action resumed, the match was reduced to 34 overs, with the revised West Indies target set at 180.
Despite the hosts losing two more wickets, one to Hlubi and another to Nonkululeko Mlaba (1-22), veteran Stafanie Taylor (30*) held her nerve. She anchored the chase with assurance, guiding the West Indies home with two overs to spare.
The series now moves to the second ODI, set to be played on Saturday at the same venue (4pm SA time).
Photo: @windiescricket/X
