Shabnim Ismail took 3-12 as the Proteas women beat the West Indies women by 11 runs in their T20 match at Kingsmead on Friday.
The game was a curtain-raiser for South Africa’s T20 international against Australia at the same venue.
The women did well to defend their low score of 125 thanks in large part to a devastating spell by Ismail. She ripped through the top order, with two wickets from two balls, as the visitor’s chase got off to a nightmare start on 16-3 inside four overs.
When Odine Kirsten struck in the fifth over to get rid of Kyshona Knight for just two, it seemed like the writing was on the wall at 16-4.
West Indies fought back well though after Deandra Dottin (40) and Stacy-Ann King (29) got together and started building a partnership.
Their 72-run stand restored order and gave them a real chance of getting to the 126 runs they needed for a win.
However, a brilliant over by Dane van Niekerk flipped the game on its head and ultimately secured a good victory for her team. With the game slipping away from South Africa, Van Niekerk struck twice in the 16th over to remove both Dottin and King to sway the game in her team’s favour.
South Africa now take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Earlier Lizelle Lee top-scored for the home side with 35 off 32 balls (2×4, 2×6).
