Persistent rain in Wellington meant play began four hours and 15 minutes after the scheduled start
West Indies Women chose to bowl vs South Africa Women
Stafanie Taylor’s West Indies will chase in a rain-reduced, must-win encounter against South Africa. This is the second shortened match for West Indies after their previous fixture against Pakistan was cut down to 20 overs. Rain on the north island had a say again, with play starting four hours and 15 minutes after the scheduled start and grey skies hanging around the Basin Reserve.
West Indies made three changes to the team that lost to Pakistan: at the top of the order and in the attack. Rashada Williams was put in to open with Deandra Dottin, which moved Hayley Matthews down to No.3 and left no room for medium-pacer Aaliyah Alleyne. Shakera Selman was left out for Shamilia Connell and vice-captain Anisa Mohammed was benched for fellow offspinner Karishma Ramharack. This new-look XI must collect two points from this match if West Indies are to have any hope of qualifying for the knockouts.
South Africa only need a point from their next two matches to reach the semi-finals, so a washout would have been enough for them, but they are eager to play. While they also would have bowled first, they were happy to set a total and made one change in the line-up. Tazmin Brits returned at No.3 after being dropped for the match against Australia, forcing Lara Goodall out.
South Africa stuck to four seamers and two spinners in their attack even though Masabata Klaas had not recovered from her shoulder injury in time for this match. Tumi Sekhukhune was given another opportunity after a tough World Cup debut against Australia.
South Africa: 1 Laura Wolvaardt, 2 Lizelle Lee, 3 Tazmin Brits, 4 Sune Luus (capt), 5 Mignon du Preez, 6 Marizanne Kapp, 7 Chloe Tryon, 8 Trisha Chetty (wk), 9 Shabnim Ismail, 10 Tumi Sekhukhune 11 Ayabonga Khaka
West Indies: 1 Deandra Dottin, 2 Rashada Williams, 3 Hayley Matthews, 4 Stafanie Taylor (capt), 5 Shemaine Campbelle (wk), 6 Chedean Nation, 7 Kycia Knight, 8 Afy Fletcher, 9 Chinelle Henry, 10 Karishma Ramharack, 11 Shamilia Connell
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent