Having already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead, South Africa extended their edge over West Indies in the ongoing women’s ODI series this Thursday. The visitors won the low-scoring penultimate game of the five-match series in Antigua by 35 runs and inched closer to a complete whitewash.
Middle-order batter Mignon du Preez played the most significant part on the batting front for the South Africans, as she made 65 off 91 in a team total of 185/6. Walking into bat at 57/3 after the 20th over, she controlled the rest of the innings from an end with an unbeaten half-century.
The next best individual score in the innings was 30 from opening batter Tazmin Brits. Wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta (28*) also made a useful contribution.
Captain Anisa Mohammad was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies, ending with figures of 2/26 off her 10 overs. Shakera Selman (1/31), Aaliyah Alleyne (1/28), Hayley Matthews (1/33) and Cherry Fraser (1/33) also took a wicket apiece.
In the second half, the decent effort made by the West Indies bowlers was outdone by their SA counterparts, who restricted the opposition to just 150/9 in 50 overs.
Visiting captain Dane van Niekerk (3/23) dominated the bowling charts for her team, while Masabata Klaas (2/25), Shabnim Ismail (1/29), Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/29) and Nadine de Klerk (1/19) chipped away at the wickets column as well.
West Indies’ batting issues stood exposed against some quality bowling from the tourists, with only four of their batters reaching double digits in the run-chase. Opening batter Rashada Williams was the top scorer with 42 off 90 balls.
But just when she was shaping up to anchor the chase well, Williams had to make the long walk back following an untimely run-out. Losing regular wickets, the hosts never quite got going and eventually suffered another chastening defeat.
Brief scores
South Africa 185/6 in 50 overs (du Preez 65*, Brits 30; Mohammed 2/26, Alleyne 1/28) beat West Indies 150/9 in 50 overs (Williams 42, Dottin 22; van Niekerk 3/23, Klaas 2/25) by 35 runs
