The West Indies Women proved their champion credentials in a world-class fightback to secure a 31-run win against the Proteas Women in Gros Islet, led by skipper Stafanie Taylor.
How do you know when you’re a world champion? When you’re facing down the barrel of defeat but you find a way to turn the gun on your opponent.
The Proteas Women’s bowlers had once again performed heroically to restrict the West Indies Women to 107-7 off their 20 overs, and their batters were making great inroads into their run chase in the first half of their innings. The Proteas were looking well on course for the win at 48-1 in the 11th over, with Marizanne Kapp and Lizelle Lee having added an undefeated 31 runs for the second wicket.
With their hopes in the match fading fast, Taylor took the initiative and brought herself into the attack. Her day hadn’t been going as planned, as she had scored a golden duck when the Windies batted, but she raised herself like a true champion to meet the challenge head-on.
Stafanie Taylor's career-best 4/12 seals the deal for the Windies as they beat South Africa by 31 runs in a low-scoring #WT20 clash.#WIvSA MATCH REPORT ? https://t.co/d9E5b7Vq4G pic.twitter.com/Ndbha9EPQx
— ICC World Twenty20 (@WorldT20) November 15, 2018
Taylor knocked over the middle order of Sune Luus (2), Mignon du Preez (7) and Chloe Tryon (6) to pull the reins on the Proteas innings as they stuttered from 53-3 to 75-6. Taylor then removed Shabnim Ismail for a single off the first ball of her fourth over, leaving the Proteas innings in a shambles at 76-8. Two run-outs followed off the third and fourth balls of Taylor’s over, with the bowler completing the final run-out to triumphantly end the Proteas innings.
The hosts had lost five wickets for just one run as Taylor produced her career-best T20I bowling figures (3.4-0-12-4, econ 3.27) to bring the Proteas Women back to earth with a bump after the terrific start to the match.
The Proteas’ collapse was highlighted by the fact that they lost their last nine wickets for 28 runs, but it was the inspired captaincy and bowling of Taylor that was a key factor in the win.
‘We knew there wasn’t enough runs on the board and we just wanted to bowl in good areas,’ said Taylor after the match. ‘I said to the girls we just have to go out there and bowl our hearts out and dive around.’
Absolute SCENES in Saint Lucia! ? #WIvSA #WT20 #WatchThis pic.twitter.com/pkEurqVrrP
— ICC World Twenty20 (@WorldT20) November 15, 2018
Photo: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty Images
