After losing to Pakistan on Monday, it was a ‘do or die’ situation for the West Indies Women against South Africa as they played their last league match on Thursday. The Maroon Warriors needed to win to have a better chance of making the semi-final as their net run rate could offer no assistance. In a second consecutive rain affected match, Stafanie Taylor won the toss and elected to bat with three changes made to the team: Rashada Williams, Shamilia Connell and Karishma Ramharack in for Aaliyah Alleyne, Shakera Selman and Anisa Mohammed. South African skipper Suné Luus said she would have also bowled first and indicated one change was made to the team: Tazmin Brits in for Laura Goodall. The match was reduced to 26 overs per side.
Pacers wreak havoc
West Indies rocked South Africa early when the opening fast bowlers snared the first 4 wickets cheaply including the in-form Laura Wolvaardt, despite putting down a few early chances in the slip cordon. Lizelle Lee and Wolvaardt opened the innings for the Proteas and Chinelle Henry and Shamilia Connell, who returned after falling ill against Bangladesh, found early swing and bounce under the overcast conditions.
It was in the second over that Henry struck the first of her three blows. Wolvaardt, slashing at a wide delivery certainly destined for four runs, was caught by Deandra Dottin who took yet another one-handed blinder at point to dismiss her for just 3 runs. This was a massive part of the job done early for the West Indies as South Africa’s top run scorer had departed cheaply. Five balls later Connell accounted for Lee as she toe-ended a heave across the line and Karishma Ramharack took the skier on the second attempt coming in from mid-wicket. The dangerous Lee was dismissed for 9. The very next ball saw new batter Tasmin Brits being dropped by Matthews at first slip and then she survived another chance in the next over at second slip. Captain Luus was the next to go off Henry, caught at point, this time by Taylor. In a deja-vu moment, the very next ball saw du Preez dropped again at second slip by Dottin who grabbed at the ball but could not hold on. Brits did not take full advantage of the lives given to her and gave Henry her 3rd wicket for the night as she skied one straight up to Ramharack at cover. The West Indies were rewarded for continuously applying the pressure and contained the top order incurring minimal damage with South Africa at 22 for the loss of 4 wickets.
Experience to South Africa’s rescue
Dottin’s drop of du Preez was proving to be costly as together as with experienced Marizanne Kapp, she began to rebuild the innings and gathered momentum in the 10th and 11th over with both veterans finding the boundary – du Preez three balls in a row. Just before the completion of the 11th over, a steady drizzle came down and the players left the field with ground staff rushing on with covers. With Du Preez on 38 not out, the match was called off as conditions did not improve when the rains came.
West Indies’ semi-final hopes are all but over as now they have to wait on the results of the remaining matches. A loss by India or England will see the West Indies through, so they will be sitting on the edge of their seats in the upcoming days – this writer definitely will.
SOUTH AFRICA-W 61/4 (10.5 overs)
Mignon du Preez 38* (31)
Chinelle Henry 3/19 (5 overs)
