South Africa set up tri-series finale with India; WI eliminated
January 25 2023 by Cricbuzz Staff
Tazmin Brits scored 50* off 43 balls
A comprehensive 10-wicket victory for South Africa in their T20I tri-series game against the West Indies on Wednesday (January 25) meant that the Caribbean side were out of contention for a spot in the final despite two matches still to go in the round-robin stage. Having managed only 97/6, West Indies saw the South African openers race away in the chase as the hosts took only 13.4 overs to reach the target.
Opting to bat, West Indies lost Rashada Williams and Shemaine Campbelle inside the first five overs with only five runs on the board. Nonkululeko Mlaba and Masabata Klaas bowled three maidens in the first five, with West Indies only managing 6 runs in the powerplay. The first four came off Britney Cooper’s bat in the seventh over, while Shabika Gajnabi struck two successive fours off Annerie Dercksen in the 10th. West Indies, though, could only get 29 at the halfway stage for the loss of three wickets.
Hayley Matthews hit a few to the fence even as Mlaba finished with excellent figures of 1 for 7 from her four overs. Shabika Gajnabi assisted Matthews in building a solid partnership, with the fifth wicket pair adding 61 off 53. But the poor batting in the first half prevented West Indies from crossing the 100-run mark.
Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt went about the chase in a steady manner, getting 36 runs off the powerplay, which included six fours between the two openers. Brits finished with a total of seven fours and a six by the time the chase was done, finishing unbeaten on 50- off 43, while Wolvaardt struck six fours in her innings of 42 not out off 39.
South Africa will face India in the fifth match of the tri-series followed by West Indies’ game against the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team. But the games will only give additional practice for South Africa and India, who will be contesting in the final on February 2.
Brief scores: West Indies 97/6 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 34, Shabika Gajnabi 33; Tumi Sekhukhune 2-24, Nonkululeko Mlaba 1-7) lost to South Africa 98/0 in 13.4 overs (Tazmin Brits 50*, Laura Wolvaardt 42*) by 10 wickets.
Ⓒ Cricbuzz
