It took a super over to separate the West Indies from South Africa in the second One Day International (ODI), with the visitors coming out on top in their rain-affected encounter in Johannesburg.
With the rain reducing the contest to a 41 overs per side, both teams managed to make 160 runs, with the South Africans getting their score in 40.4 overs and the West Indies being dismissed in 37. 4 overs.
Player of the Match Chinelle Henry put in a good all-round effort for the regional girls, bagging two wickets for 32 runs in nine overs, then returning to hit 26 in the Windies run chase. Chedean Nation made a valiant 35, which almost got the visitors over the line, as South Africa’s Ayabonga Khaka took five for 26.
Earlier, Sune Luus made a top score of 46 in the South African innings, with all the Windies bowlers picking up two wickets each.
With neither side able to separate themselves, a Super Over was needed to determine the winners and the West Indies sent the experienced pair of Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews to get them a winning score. Dottin smashed 19 runs from five balls, with Matthews hitting the final ball for six off Shabnim Ismail. Set 25 to win, South Africa relied on Chloe Tryon and Tazmin Brits, who blasted 15 runs off the first four balls bowled by Matthews.
They would, however, get just two runs from the last two balls, which handed the West Indies victory and a welcomed relief for Player of the Match Henry.
“We have been putting in the work and it was just about going out there and applying ourselves. As a team, we are in a good space and once we continue to do the things we are doing, we will be fine,” said Henry.
The West Indies could have been two-nil up in the series had the first ODI not been abandoned because of rain. The West Indies made 243 in that match and had South Africa reeling at 87 for five.
For Henry, the win yesterday has given the team the belief to go and do big things, with the World Cup on the horizon.
“Before we left the Caribbean, we knew the aim was to use these four matches as a warm-up ahead of the World Cup. We have been in really good shape and working hard, and it’s just to continue doing the little things that will help us to continue to improve.”
Game three in the series will be played on Thursday.
SCOREBOARD
SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN (Max: 41 overs)
L. Wolvaardt c Selman b Henry 25
T. Brits c wkp Campbelle b Henry 25
L. Goodall st Campbelle b Ramharack 1
*S. Luus c Taylor b Connell 46
M. du Preez c Matthews b Ramharack 9
C. Tryon c Henry b Connell 18
+S. Jafta c & b Matthews 14
S. Ismail c Williams b Selman 0
M. Klaas c Nation b Selman 3
A. Khaka c wkp Campbelle b Matthews 4
N. Mlaba not out 6
Extras (lb1, w5, nb3) 9
TOTAL (all out, 40.4 overs) 160
Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-58, 3-58, 4-91, 6-142, 7-146, 8-148, 9-151, 10-160
Bowling: Connell 8-0-22-2 (w1), Selman 8-0-47-2 (w2, nb3), Matthews 7.4-0-21-2, Henry 9-1-32-2 (w2), Ramharack 8-1-37-2.
WEST INDIES WOMEN (Target: 161 off 41 overs)
D. Dottin b Khaka 37
R. Williams c Luus b Klaas 1
Kycia Knight c Goodall b Khaka 3
*S. Taylor c & b Luus 21
H. Matthews c Ismail b Khaka 4
+S. Campbelle b Luus 13
C. Nation c Goodall b Klaas 35
C. Henry b Khaka 26
S. Connell lbw b Khaka 0
S. Selman lbw b Ismail 11
K. Ramharack not out 1
Extras (lb1, w6, nb1) 8
TOTAL (all out, 37.4 overs) 160
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-32, 3-43 , 4-49, 5-82, 6-83, 7-137, 8-137, 9-158, 10-160.
Bowling: Ismail 7.4-0-28-1, Klaas 6-1-42-2, Khaka 8-1-26-5, Mlaba 9-0-38-0, Lulus 7-1-25-2.
Result: West Indies won via super over.
Series: West Indies lead four-match series 1-0.
Player-of-the-Match: Chenille Henry.
Toss: South Africa Women.
Umpires: Arno Jacobs, Siphelele Gasa; TV – Lubabalo Gcuma.