Another South African batting collapse saw the West Indies Women go 2-0 up in the five-match T20I series after a nine-wicket victory in Trinidad on Friday.
Anisa Mohammed was the chief destroyer for the West Indies, returning 5-22, including a final over hat-trick to reduce the Proteas to 101-8, who were sent into bat.
Lizelle Lee suffered her second duck on tour (to go with scores of one, two and 22), and Sune Luus followed in the same over for a four-ball duck.
Stepping into the T20I series for the first time on tour, captain Dane van Niekerk opened the batting and once again top-scored. Van Niekerk’s 36 runs came off 48 balls as she and Chloe Tryon shared a 28-run, fourth-wicket partnership before the latter was the third wicket to fall. Stafanie Taylor dismissing her for 21 off 24 balls in the 10th over to leave the Proteas struggling on 32-3.
Mignon du Preez (27 off 23 balls) put together the second-highest score of the Proteas innings as she and her captain knuckled down for a 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket in eight overs. Mohammed dismissed Du Preez in the 18th over and followed up with a devasting final over. She had Van Niekerk caught off the second ball, and then picked up a hat-trick in the last three deliveries of the innings for an astonishing four wickets in the over.
Mohammed’s 4-0-24-5 (econ 6.00) was, ironically, not her best T20I bowling performance, which was 5-10 (econ 2.50) against the Proteas Women in Cape Town in 2009 in only her seventh T20I – she has now played 96 T20Is. However, it was the first time in almost a year that Mohammed has taken more than one wicket in a white ball innings for the West Indies Women. It was also her third five-for in T20Is, having taken 5-12 (econ 3.00) against New Zealand Women in 2013.
Shamilia Connell kept a really tight line, conceding just 11 runs off her three overs (econ 3.66), and was backed up by Hayley Matthews (2-16, econ 4.00).
Marizanne Kapp did superbly to try and defend their score, keeping the West Indies well below the required run rate off her bowling (4-1-13-0, econ 3.25), but none of her teammates could keep the hosts below six to the over, as they romped home after just 15.3 overs.
Luus picked up the only West Indies wicket to fall (Matthews for 17 off 21 balls) before Natasha McLean (42 off 46 balls, two fours, two sixes) and Taylor (35 off 30 balls, one four, one six) added an unbroken 72 for the second wicket in under 10 overs.
Mohammed deservedly picked up the Player of the Match award for her superb bowling display.
The must-win, third T20I takes place on Sunday 30 September at the same venue. The Proteas desperately need a victory to keep their hopes alive in this series.
Tour Schedule
Sunday, 30 September: 3rd T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy
Wednesday, 3 October: 4th T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy
Saturday, 6 October: 5th T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy
Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
