By Leighton Levy (Sportsmax)- A composed half-century from captain Hayley Matthews led the West Indies Women to a commanding six-wicket win over South Africa Women in the second T20 International at the Three Ws Oval in Cave Hill, Barbados, on Sunday, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.
Chasing a modest target of 114 after South Africa posted 113-6, Matthews anchored the innings with a sublime unbeaten 63 from 56 balls, guiding her team to 116-4 with four balls to spare. She struck five fours and a six, and was deservedly named Player of the Match for her all-round performance that also included a tight spell of 1-15 from four overs.
Matthews shared a crucial 41-run opening partnership with Qiana Joseph, who struck three boundaries in her 21-ball 17, to lay the foundation for the chase. Following Joseph’s dismissal in the eighth over, the West Indies innings wobbled slightly, slipping from 41-1 to 77-4 after losing Shawnisha Hector (3), Shemaine Campbelle (7), and Chinelle Henry (3) in quick succession.
But Jannillea Glasgow kept her nerve alongside her skipper, contributing a calm 15 not out off 17 deliveries in a match-winning 39-run stand that sealed the victory. Fittingly, it was Glasgow who struck the winning runs, driving Nadine de Klerk through the offside for four to complete the chase in the final over.
Earlier, South Africa’s innings never gained momentum after they were sent in to bat. Afy Fletcher (2-13) and Karishma Ramharack (2-25) applied the brakes in the middle overs, combining with Matthews and teenager Jahzara Claxton (1-27) to restrict the visitors to 113-6 from their 20 overs.
Opener Laura Wolvaardt struck 16 before falling to Claxton, and Tazmin Brits laboured for 14 off 21 balls before becoming one of Fletcher’s two victims. Nadine de Klerk top-scored with 20, while Annerie Dercksen’s late 21 not out, gave South Africa a brief surge toward the end. The visitors’ inability to build substantial partnerships, with no stand exceeding 29 runs, proved costly.
In contrast, West Indies’ bowlers executed with discipline. Fletcher was especially frugal, conceding just 13 runs in her spell while removing Brits and de Klerk. Matthews’ dismissal of the dangerous Marizanne Kapp for a duck also proved a turning point.
South Africa’s bowling effort saw Nonkululeko Mlaba lead the way with 2-17, including the scalps of Campbelle and Henry in quick succession. Ayabonga Khaka (1-27) and Masabata Klaas (1-22) also chipped in, but Matthews’ calm presence at the crease nullified their efforts.
With the series now tied at one win apiece, both teams will head into the decisive third T20I with everything to play for. The final match takes place at the same venue on Monday.
