Captain Hayley Matthews guided the West Indies Women to a six-wicket victory over the Proteas Women in a low-scoring second T20I in Barbados on Sunday.
In response to South Africa’s total of 113-6, Matthews anchored the Windies’ chase with an unbeaten 63 off 56 balls, including five fours and a six.
Despite the best efforts of Nonkululeko Mlaba, who took 2-17, the West Indies reached their target with four balls to spare.
South Africa, having been put in to bat, made a steady start through openers Laura Wolvaardt (16) and the in-form Tazmin Brits (14), taking the score to 30 by the fourth over.
However, the West Indies struck when Jahzara Claxton (1-27) dismissed Wolvaardt and Matthews (1-15) removed Marizanne Kapp for a duck, reducing South Africa to 32-2 by the end of the powerplay.
With the hosts building momentum and runs becoming harder to come by, Brits fell in the ninth over, bowled by Afy Fletcher (2-13).
A 29-run stand between Nadine de Klerk (20) and Miané Smit (13) offered some resistance, pushing the Proteas Women to 69-3 before De Klerk’s dismissal, caught by Matthews off Fletcher, marked a turning point.
The West Indies didn’t have to wait too long for more wickets to fall, with Smit and Chloé Tryon (four) sent back to the dugout by Karishma Ramharack (2-25) to leave the tourists 79-6 with less than five overs to go.
Youngsters Karabo Meso (14*) and Annerie Dercksen (21*) produced an unbroken 34-run partnership to take South Africa to a modest 113-6 at the end of their innings.
In response, the West Indies began confidently. Openers Qiana Joseph (17) and Matthews guided their side to 33-0 after six overs. The opening partnership grew to 41 before Joseph lofted one off Ayabonga Khaka (1-27), caught by Klaas in the eighth over.
Soon after the Windies passed 50, debutant Shawnisha Hector (three) was dismissed by Masabata Klaas (1-22), giving South Africa their second breakthrough.
Needing just around a run a ball, the home side added 20 more runs through a third-wicket partnership between Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle (seven). Campbelle was eventually undone by a top edge off Mlaba’s bowling, to leave the hosts 70-3 in the 13th over before the left-arm spinner struck again in her next over, trapping Chinelle Henry (three) lbw.
That, however, proved to be the final wicket of the match. Matthews demonstrated her composure as she brought up her 18th T20I half-century and led the Windies in a decisive 39-run stand with Jannilea Glasgow (15*), who sealed the win with a boundary in the final over.
The series decider will be played on Monday (8pm SA time).
Photo: @windiescricket/X
