On October 4th, 2024, South Africa Women took on West Indies Women in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. South Africa Women secured a commanding victory, defeating West Indies Women by 10 wickets. The match saw South Africa chase down the target of 119 runs with ease, achieving 119/0 in 17.5 overs, while West Indies posted 118/6 in their allotted 20 overs. The star of the match was Nonkululeko Mlaba, who was named the Player of the Match for her brilliant bowling figures of 4/29 in 4 overs.
Match Details
- South Africa Women: 119/0 (17.5 overs)
- West Indies Women: 118/6 (20 overs)
- Result: South Africa Women won by 10 wickets
- Player of the Match: Nonkululeko Mlaba (4/29 in 4 overs)
West Indies Women – Batting Performance
West Indies struggled to build partnerships throughout their innings. Despite some resistance from key players, they were unable to post a challenging total.
- Hayley Matthews (c): 10 runs off 11 balls, hitting 2 boundaries before being dismissed by Marizanne Kapp.
- Qiana Joseph: 4 runs off 14 balls, contributing with a solitary boundary before falling to Nonkululeko Mlaba.
- Stafanie Taylor: Top-scored with 44 off 41 balls, hitting 2 fours and 1 six, and anchoring the innings to keep the scoreboard ticking.
- Deandra Dottin: Contributed 13 runs off 11 balls, with 3 boundaries, but her wicket fell early in the innings.
- Shemaine Campbell (wk): Added 17 runs off 21 balls, hitting 1 boundary, and provided some middle-order resistance.
- Chinelle Henry: Scored 0 off 1 ball, dismissed by Mlaba.
- Aaliyah Alleyne: Managed 7 runs off 8 balls before getting caught by Tazmin Brits off Mlaba.
- Zaida James: Remained not out with 15 off 13 balls, hitting 2 boundaries to provide a small late flourish.
West Indies Women finished with a total of 118/6 in their 20 overs, a score that seemed below par on a decent batting track.
South Africa Women – Bowling Performance
South Africa’s bowlers were clinical, with Nonkululeko Mlaba standing out. The bowlers maintained tight lines and restricted West Indies’ scoring throughout the innings.
- Marizanne Kapp: Led the bowling attack, taking 2 wickets for 14 runs in her 4 overs with an economy rate of 3.50. Her early breakthroughs set the tone for South Africa’s bowling performance.
- Ayabonga Khaka: Bowled 3 overs, conceding only 12 runs without picking up a wicket but maintaining control.
- Nonkululeko Mlaba: The star bowler, with figures of 4/29 in 4 overs. Mlaba’s variations proved too much for the West Indies batters, picking up crucial wickets to break the back of their batting lineup.
- Chloe Tryon: Bowled 4 overs for 23 runs but didn’t pick up any wickets.
- Nadine De Klerk: Conceded 14 runs in her 2 overs without a wicket.
- Annerie Dercksen: Bowled 1 over for 14 runs.
- Sune Luus: Finished with 2 overs for 11 runs.
South Africa Women – Batting Performance
South Africa’s chase was thoroughly dominated by their opening pair, with both batters remaining unbeaten to guide their team to a comprehensive victory.
- Laura Wolvaardt (c): Played a composed knock of 59* off 55 balls, anchoring the innings and leading her side to victory. She struck 7 boundaries and maintained a strike rate of 107.27.
- Tazmin Brits: Equally impressive with 57* off 52 balls. She hit 6 boundaries and rotated the strike well, finishing with a strike rate of 109.61.
South Africa comfortably chased down the target in 17.5 overs, finishing with 119/0.
West Indies Women – Bowling Performance
West Indies bowlers were unable to make any breakthroughs in the match, as South Africa’s openers batted with authority.
- Chinelle Henry: Bowled 2 overs, conceding 20 runs at an economy of 10.00.
- Zaida James: Bowled just 0.1 overs and gave away 1 run.
- Qiana Joseph: Conceded 9 runs in 1.5 overs.
- Hayley Matthews: Bowled 4 overs for 22 runs at an economy of 5.50 but could not take a wicket.
- Karishma Ramharack: Delivered 3.5 overs for 22 runs at an economy of 5.73.
- Afy Fletcher: Bowled 3 overs, giving away 24 runs at an economy of 8.00.
- Aaliyah Alleyne: Conceded 11 runs in 2 overs.
- Shamilia Connell: Gave away 8 runs in her only over.
Fall of Wickets – West Indies Women
- Hayley Matthews: 15/1 (2.5 overs) – caught by Sinalo Jafta off Marizanne Kapp
- Qiana Joseph: 18/2 (4.4 overs) – bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba
- Deandra Dottin: 32/3 (6.5 overs) – caught by Laura Wolvaardt off Marizanne Kapp
- Shemaine Campbell: 62/4 (11.4 overs) – bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba
- Chinelle Henry: 62/5 (11.5 overs) – caught by Sinalo Jafta off Nonkululeko Mlaba
- Aaliyah Alleyne: 83/6 (15.1 overs) – caught by Tazmin Brits off Nonkululeko Mlaba
Top Batting Performance Review
- Stafanie Taylor was the top scorer for West Indies with 44 off 41 balls, showcasing resilience and power-hitting with 2 boundaries and a six. However, she lacked support from the other end.
- For South Africa, both Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits were outstanding, scoring unbeaten half-centuries and ensuring the chase was handled without any hiccups.
Top Bowling Performance Review
- Nonkululeko Mlaba was the standout performer with 4 wickets for 29 runs in 4 overs. Her consistent line and length, along with clever variations, dismantled the West Indies’ batting lineup, earning her the Player of the Match title.
Player of the Match – Nonkululeko Mlaba
Mlaba’s 4/29 in 4 overs was a match-defining spell. Her bowling created early breakthroughs and consistently pegged back the West Indies’ batting, restricting them to a below-par total. Her ability to take wickets at crucial junctures and contain the opposition made her the star of the match.
Conclusion
South Africa Women put on a commanding all-round performance to secure a 10-wicket victory over West Indies Women. With standout performances from both bat and ball, particularly Nonkululeko Mlaba’s match-winning spell, South Africa looks poised for strong performances in the rest of the tournament.
