Source: Loop News
South Africa Women thrashed West Indies Women by 166 runs via the DLS method in the decisive third One-Day International at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados on Tuesday, sealing a 2-1 series victory.
Sent in to bat in a rain-affected match reduced to 45.5 overs, the visitors piled up 278 for six, anchored by a commanding century from opener Tazmin Brits and a fluent half-century from captain Laura Wolvaardt.
In reply, West Indies folded for 121 in 27.5 overs, chasing a revised target of 288 from 39 overs, with only Aaliyah Alleyne (32) and Jahzara Claxton (43) offering resistance.
South Africa’s openers laid a solid foundation, with Brits smashing 101 off 91 balls, including eight fours and four sixes, while Wolvaardt added 75 in a 184-run stand for the first wicket.
Spinner Afy Fletcher broke the partnership, removing Brits shortly after she reached her century. Fletcher then dismissed Wolvaardt and Nondumiso Shangase (8) in the same over to reduce South Africa to 200-3. Captain Hayley Matthews claimed the wicket of Sune Luus (4) before rain interrupted play again.
On the resumption, Marizanne Kapp struck an unbeaten 34 to push the total beyond 275. Fletcher was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, finishing with 3-53.
The West Indies chase got off to a calamitous start, slipping to 10-4 inside three overs. Matthews fell for 8, triggering a top-order collapse engineered by pacer Masabata Klaas, who removed three of the first four batters and ended with figures of 4-25.
A 65-run stand between Alleyne and Claxton briefly steadied the innings, but once they departed, the lower order crumbled. Nonkululeko Mlaba (2-25) and Annerie Dercksen (2-1) wrapped up the tail.
Despite the heavy defeat, Matthews highlighted the promise shown by the squad’s younger players.
“It’s always going to be tough with a young group, but these girls are eager to learn,” she said. “The way Claxton batted today was beautiful – something many wouldn’t expect from someone coming in at seven or eight. There’s a lot of potential, and it just needs to be nurtured.”
The teams will now turn their focus to a three-match T20 International series, starting on Friday.