Windies Women no match for South Africa

The West Indies Women's team were no match for their South African counterparts after they went down by eight wickets in the opening one-day international at Coolidge in Antigua yesterday.

With their inspirational leader Stafanie Taylor still missing, the regional women could not make the most of a decent batting pitch and were dismissed for 153 in 46. 4 overs.

It wasn't the best of starts for the Windies, who lost Kyshona Knight and Hayley Matthews for five and four, respectively, with only 12 runs on the board in the 10th over.

Brittany Cooper and Deandra Dottin then began to repair the damage, and the pair added a valuable 58 runs for the third wicket.

Dottin hit seven fours in her 36-ball knock of 38 before she fell to Sune Luus. Cooper, who was also going well but had to retire hurt on 25.

The home side then began to lose wickets at regular intervals, and the scoreline could have been a lot less were it not for a valuable 39 from 78 balls from Kycia Knight who hit two fours.

The South African bowlers were all in good knick with Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune and Dane Van Niekerk bagging two wickets each.

88 runs

Chasing 154 for victory, the South Africans began their run chase brightly with openers Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt putting on 88 runs for the first wicket before Wolvaardt was bowled by captain Anisa Mohammed for 36.

The home side got even more excited one run later, with left-arm spinner Qiana Joseph trapping Sune Luus Infront for nought.

That would be the only respite as Lee and captain Van Niekerk shared in a 68-run third-wicket stand to take the visitors over the line. Lee was magnificent with a well-played 91 from 127 balls with 10 fours and a six.

Van Niekerk was not out on 17 with two fours as there was a wicket each for Mohammed and Joseph.

The teams will meet again in the second ODI on Friday.