South Africa women 201 for 9 (Luus 58, van Niekerk 46, Wolvaardt 45, Taylor 3-37) beat West Indies women 161 (Campbelle 46, Kapp 3-14, Mali 2-11) by 40 runs
Marizanne Kapp‘s economy and potency with the ball led South Africa’s defence of 201 in the first ODI in Bridgetown, where West Indies slumped to a 40-run defeat. The seamer finished with figures of 9-2-14-3 as West Indies were bowled out with four overs still to play.
The win was South Africa’s third in seven Women’s Championship matches; they are now second from bottom on the table, but have played two games fewer than Sri Lanka, India, England and table-toppers New Zealand.
Kapp dealt an early blow to West Indies’ hopes when she had Hayley Matthews caught behind off the second ball of the chase. By the end of the 15th over, West Indies were three down for 45 with the debutant medium-pacer Tumi Sekhukhune sending back Stafanie Taylor and Chedean Nation.
West Indies had recovered somewhat to 84 for 4 when the legspinner Sune Luus ended a cameo from Deandra Dottin (19 off 21) in the 24th over. Kapp took two in three balls in the next over, effectively ending the contest, which was only prolonged by a 71-ball 46 from Shemaine Campbelle, who was last out to Zintle Mali, who finished with 2 for 11 from three overs.
Sent in to bat, South Africa seemed set for a big score at 104 for 1, as Laura Wolvaardt and Luus added 99 for the second wicket. Both fell in quick succession, however – Luus for 58 off 86 balls, her seventh ODI fifty – and the innings never recovered. Wickets fell steadily at one end, Taylor picking up 3 for 37 with her offspin, but captain Dane van Niekerk scored an unbeaten 46 off 77 balls to ensure South Africa batted through their 50 overs, finishing nine down.