A thrilling final over saw the Proteas Women chase down a sizable target set by the West Indies Women at Tarouba with just one ball remaining.
The Proteas Women held their nerve to clinch a three-wicket victory over West Indies in a nail-biting fifth and final T20I at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday. The result levels the series at 2-2, after the third T20I had been abandoned due to a soggy outfield.
Lizelle Lee top-scored for the visitors with a quick-fire 42 from just 24 deliveries as they successfully chased down the Windies’ 155-5 with one ball to spare.
Lee, along with her opening partner Laura Wolvaardt got South Africa’s reply off to a solid start with a 37-run stand before the latter edged the ball to the keeper, departing for 23 at the end of the fourth over. Lee pressed on with Robyn Searle (14), smashing 10 boundaries in the process before her innings was ended by Afy Fletcher (1-24) in the seventh over.
Chloe Tryon and Mignon du Preez were the other notable contributors with the bat, scoring 31 (22 balls) and 25 (21 balls) as the Proteas soldiered on towards their target.
Earlier, Hayley Matthews scored an exciting 70 from just 52 deliveries (eight fours, three sixes, S/R 134.61) to help set up her side’s competitive total. Shemaine Campbelle and Natasha McLean brought up the remaining notable contributions with respective scores of 28 and 23.
Saarah Smith returned 2-24 with the ball, while Tumi Sekhukhune (1-19), Zintle Mali (1-21) and Masabata Klaas (1-33) each picked up a Windies scalp.
Today’s victory brings a positive end to the tour for the visitors and will give them good momentum going into the ICC Women’s World T20 to be held in the Windies this November.
