Match 3 of One-Day International (ODI) Series

Venue: Imperial Wanderers Stadium

Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first

Result: South Africa won by 96 runs

Scoreboard: https://bit.ly/sawvwiwodi3

The West Indies Women lost for the first time in this series to South Africa Women as the hosts drew level with one match to play. The first match was abandoned due to rain and West Indies won the second in the one-over eliminator. The South Africans won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot and humid day in Johannesburg. Laura Woolvardt played well at the top of the order and scored a sparkling century.  It was her day, as she relished the inconsistent bowling.

Despite going for runs in her first three overs, Shamilia Connell managed to remove Tamzin Brits and Anneke Bosch early, for 18 and five respectively. Then came the highest third wicket partnership for South Africa of 181 runs, when Woolvardt was joined by her captain Sune Luus. Luus reached 56 before she was bowled by off-spinner Anisa Mohammed. Woolvardt continued playing shots all around the ground, bringing up her third ODI century.

She made 117 off 122 balls before seamer Chinelle Henry returned to the attack to have her caught by Stafanie Taylor. Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk had a 75-run partnership for the sixth wicket with the score on 294. Connell was brought back into the attack and removed both Tryon and de Klerk, giving her, her career best ODI figures of finishing with 4-54 from 10 overs as South Africa closed their innings on 299-8 from their 50 overs.

The West Indies innings did not start as they would have wanted, with Rashada Williams once again out for one. Deandra Dottin who has been in smashing form failed to fire in this match as she lobbed the ball easily to Brits, caught for 12. Kycia Knight, third in had an innings to rebuild with skipper Stafanie Taylor, but it was not to be as Taylor was struck on the helmet, which resulted in her being medically assessed with a concussion. As a per the match conditions, Aaliyah Alleyne came into the playing XI as the concussion substitution.

The left-handed Knight continued her timely and elegant batting and brought up the second ODI half-century of career. She eventually fell for 69 off 93 deliveries, with the score on 141 and a partnership of 55, with keeper Shemaine Campbelle (16).

Chedean Nation who took a tumble during the West Indies fielding innings, could not return to bat, so Alleyne came to the wicket. Chinelle Henry hit two fours in a quick 17 off 16 balls, sharing in a 28-run partnership with Alleyne. Alleyne was joined by Shakera Selman and the pair added 26 runs for the ninth wicket.

West Indies Women’s innings ended on 203-9 in 44.4 overs. Fast bowler Shabnim Ismail had the best bowling figures for South Africa, with 4-37 from 8.4 overs.

The teams return to the Imperial Wanderers Stadium on Sunday for the fourth and final match with the series win on the line. It is a day fixture, first ball at 10am local time (4am Eastern Caribbean Time/3am Jamaica Time).