Windies claim sensational victory

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor produced her best-ever bowling performance in a T20I to trigger a breathtaking South Africa batting collapse and help lead the home side to their second victory in as many matches in the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup on Wednesday night.

Scores: West Indies 107 for seven off 20 overs (Kycia Knight 32, Natasha McLean 28; Shabnim Ismail 3-12, Dane van Niekerk 2-8). South Africa 76 off 18.4 overs (Marizanne Kapp 26, Lizelle Lee 24; Stafanie Taylor 4-12).

South African fast bowler Shabnim Ismail had produced a brilliant spell of fast bowling, as yet another inept batting performance by the Windies saw them struggle to 107 for seven off their 20 overs.

However, Taylor then not only spurred on her troops, but led from the front, on her way to grabbing four wickets as the Proteas were bundled out for just 76 in 18.4 overs.

A West Indies victory had seemed most unlikely with Lizelle Lee and Marizanne Kapp at the crease and the visitors coasting at 48 for one during a 31-run partnership.

But in one of the biggest collapses ever witnessed in the tournament, South Africa lost their next nine wickets for the addition of only 28 runs.

Lee’s dismissal started the rout when she was stunningly caught by Britney Cooper for 24 on the cover boundary off the bowling of Deandra Dottin, as she looked to clear the ropes.

Two runs later, Dottin accounted for the wicket of Proteas skipper Dan van Niekerk with a spectacular fielding effort. Running in from point, she collected the ball and fired in her return which shattered the stumps, leaving van Niekerk well short of her ground, to leave the score 50 for three.

Sune Luus only scored two before her attempted sweep ballooned into the air where Shamilia Connell running in from square leg took a good diving catch to give Taylor her first wicket.

Mignon du Preez then drove Taylor straight into the hands of Natasha McClean at long on as South Africa fell further into trouble at 64 for five in the 15th over.

The slide continued when Taylor clean bowled Chloe Tryon for six to make it 75 for six, as the Proteas lost their last five wickets for just one run.

Kapp was eventually caught trying to hit out for the topscore of 26, with Ismail (1), Masabata Klass (0) and Tumi Sekhukhune (0) following in quick succession to spark wild celebrations at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium.

Taylor finished with the fine figures of four for 12 from 3.4 overs.

A bowling performance of that magnitude was required after Ismail’s three-wicket burst had put the Windies on their heels.

Ismail snared the crucial wickets of openers Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin as well as that of Taylor for a first ball duck to leave the home side tottering on 22 for three.

The Windies were saved from total disgrace by Kycia Knight who topscored with 32 and Natasha McClean who made 28, with the two adding 45 runs for the fifth wicket.

And even after McClean fell, Knight’s patience ensured that the Windies would make it past the 100-run mark and give themselves a fighting chance.