BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – On an electrifying Monday night on the iconic 3W’s Oval, the West Indies Ladies scripted an exciting six-wicket victory over South Africa Ladies, clinching a historic 2-1 T20I collection win—their first over the Proteas in additional than a decade.
Captain Hayley Matthews, contemporary off her recognition as Cricket West Indies’ Ladies’s T20I Participant of the Yr, delivered yet one more masterclass, crafting a fluent 65 from 50 balls. Her efforts had been ably complemented by vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle, whose composed 42 anchored a match-defining partnership and paved the way in which for a triumphant chase of 148.
The victory marked the Caribbean facet’s first T20I collection win towards South Africa since 2013, rekindling recollections of previous dominance whereas affirming a brand new period below Matthews’ dynamic management.
Smith shines for South Africa in robust begin
South Africa opted to bat first after successful the toss, and located early rhythm via their prime order. A blinding unbeaten half-century from 20-year-old Miane Smith—her first in T20I cricket—helped the guests publish a aggressive 147 for six.
Smith performed with a composure past her years, compiling 59 not out from 38 deliveries, punctuated by seven boundaries and a lofted six. She emerged because the lone standout in a faltering center order, which was successfully neutralized by West Indies’ intelligent use of spin.
Karishma Ramharack led the bowling effort with a cost-effective 2-18, whereas Afy Fletcher chipped in with 2-28. Matthews, too, stifled the scoring with tight strains, preserving the Proteas in verify throughout the center overs.
Early wickets jolt WI run chase
Chasing 148 for victory, West Indies discovered themselves in early bother. Opener Qiana Joseph departed with simply 17 on the board, and Realeanna Grimmond adopted shortly after for 5, bowled by the persistent Ayabonga Khaka. At 32 for 2 within the sixth over, the stress was firmly on the house facet.
However Matthews, unbothered by the early setbacks, unleashed a flurry of attacking strokes to grab again momentum. Within the eighth over, she dismantled Khaka’s rhythm with a six and two fours, gathering 18 runs in that over alone. One other boundary off Nonkululeko Mlaba pushed her into the 40s, and she or he introduced up her nineteenth T20I half-century with a scrappy two off the ultimate supply of the eleventh over.
82-run stand anchors the chase
Campbelle joined Matthews to sew collectively an important 82-run partnership throughout 10 overs, steadying the ship with calculated aggression and exact shot choice. Their stand propelled West Indies to 110 for 2 by the fifteenth over, needing simply 38 runs from 30 balls—a seemingly easy equation.
However the contest twisted as soon as extra when Matthews, after hitting 9 fours and one six, was bowled off her pads by spinner Sune Luus. Campbelle then handed Marizanne Kapp a tame caught-and-bowled probability, triggering nervous flutters within the dwelling dugout with the rating at 136 for 4.
Henry’s late surge seals the deal
Needing 12 runs from the ultimate 13 deliveries, Chinelle Henry stepped up with nerves of metal. She launched Tumi Sekhukhune for a six and a 4 in successive balls, then sealed the collection with a cover-driven two that despatched the gang into raptures.
Henry remained unbeaten on 20 off 11 balls, together with two boundaries and a six—her late cameo proving the decisive blow in a gripping finale. Kapp was the decide of South Africa’s bowlers with 2-27, nevertheless it was not sufficient to disclaim the hosts a long-awaited collection victory.
A victory years within the making
This collection win was greater than a statistical achievement—it was a declaration of resurgence. “To win a collection towards South Africa after such a very long time, and to do it right here in entrance of our followers—it means every little thing,” Matthews mentioned after gathering each Participant-of-the-Match and Participant-of-the-Sequence honors.
The Caribbean girls now look forward with renewed perception, their skipper main from the entrance, their squad displaying depth, and their legacy rediscovering momentum.
