South Africa register 10-wicket win to kick off their T20 World Cup campaign

South Africa Women began their 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign on the grandest note possible by defeating West Indies by 10 wickets. 

Chasing only 119 after opting to field, South Africa cruised to the target in only 17.5 overs with both openers Laura Wolvaardt (59* from 55 balls) and Tazmin Brits (57* from 52 balls) remaining not out. 

In Match 3, these are also the first two half-centuries of the tournament as no batter was able to raise their bat on a low-scoring first day yesterday (October 3). It is also the fifth 10-wicket win in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup. South Africa were also at the centre stage of the previous 10-wicket victory, beating Bangladesh by 10 wickets in Cape Town last year. 

South Africa were hardly tested in this contest. They won the toss, opted to bowl and pushed West Indies on the back foot right away with the wicket of Hayley Matthews (10) in the third over. The Women in Maroon never recovered from that loss. They lost wickets consistently with no one able to shift the pressure back on the Proteas. If anything, the pressure on them was mounted further by the left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba picking 4/29 in her four overs — one in the powerplay, two in the middle overs, one in the death overs. 

West Indies were 83/6 in 15.1 overs but was pushed by an unbeaten 35-run stand between Stefanie Taylor (44*) and Zaida James (15*). Apart from Mlaba, Marizanne Kapp also snapped 2/14 in her four overs, including the crucial wicket of Matthews upfront.

There isn’t much to write about West Indies’ bowling efforts. They needed early wickets but couldn’t manage any through the innings. Wolvaardt and Brits also ensured that run rate was never an issue, scoring 43 runs in the first six overs and then another 60 in the middle overs (overs 7 to 15). West Indies used eight bowlers, including Zaida James who was injured out of action after her first ball. 

Coincidentally, it was the 13th T20I half-century for both the batters and the second 100-run opening stand, with both coming in the World Cups.

“We were able to build some partnerships in between but probably not able to strike the way we wanted to,” said the West Indies skipper, Matthews. 

Wolvaardt, despite making it look easy, suggested it was one of her toughest knocks. “One of the harder knocks I have had physically, especially after fielding first,” the Protea skipper said. 

Mlaba was adjudged the Player of the Match for her 4/29 which are also the joint-second best bowling figures for South Africa in the Women T20 World Cups. 

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