Barbados, June 9 – West Indies Women kicked off their three-match ODI series against South Africa Women in emphatic style with a rain-adjusted 4-wicket win under the DLS method at the 3Ws Oval. In a match where momentum kept shifting, it was Qiana Joseph who emerged as the star, guiding her team to a composed victory in a chase truncated to 34 overs.
Chasing a revised target of 180, the Windies women showed resilience despite early hiccups, thanks to a vital 60-run knock off 58 balls from Joseph. Her innings included timely boundaries and smart rotation of strike, anchoring the side when pressure was building. With 12 balls to spare, the hosts reached 180/6, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Earlier in the day, after losing the toss and being sent in to bat, South Africa Women posted a competitive 232/9 in 50 overs. Tazmin Brits led the charge with a well-constructed 57 off 65 balls, supported by Nadine de Klerk’s 42 (38) and Sune Luus’ 32 (53). Despite a solid start, South Africa couldn’t fully capitalize in the death overs due to some disciplined bowling by West Indies.
Aaliyah Alleyne and Karishma Ramharack kept things tight with two wickets apiece, while Jannillea Glasgow chipped in with one. Their efforts ensured the Proteas were kept under control in the final stretch of the innings.
West Indies’ chase was initially powered by captain Hayley Matthews, who scored a fluent 40 off 44 before falling to Ayanda Hlubi, who bagged 3/50 and was the pick of the South African bowlers. Stafanie Taylor, with her composed 30 off 34*, provided the finishing touches alongside Joseph in a pressure situation.
Rain delayed the start of the second innings, reducing the chase to 34 overs, but that didn’t stop the Windies Women from holding their nerve and sealing a crucial win in front of their home crowd.
With this result, West Indies Women go 1-0 up in the series, and the focus now shifts to the second ODI, where South Africa will aim to bounce back and keep the series alive.
