South Africa women 156 for 7 (Lee 42, Tryon 31, Connell 2-20) beat West Indies women 155 for 5 (Matthews 70, Campbelle 28, Smith 2-24) by three wickets
Lizelle Lee's fiery 42 at the top and Chloe Tryon's 22-ball 31 consisting one four and two sixes was key to South Africa women completing a challenging chase of 156 with one ball to spare in Tarouba. The three-wicket win meant they came back from 2-0 down to level the five-match T20I series at 2-2, with one match abandoned. The ODI series too had finished level at 1-1.
The result was a significant boost for South Africa on two counts: this came against the reigning Women's World T20 champions and that the series afforded them an opportunity to acclimatise in the Caribbean ahead of the World T20 in November.
West Indies, disappointed as they may be for missing out a chance on a series win, would be happy with Hayley Matthews' form. The 20-year old who struck a match-winning half-century in that famous World T20 final against Australia in Kolkata more than two years ago, bruised the bowlers to make 52-ball 70 at the top of the order. Shemaine Campbelle, the allrounder, contributed a handy 28 to help finish on a high as West Indies, with little contribution from the middle order, made 155 for 5, after being put in to bat.
Stafanie Taylor, the captain, and Deandra Dottin, who made a first-ball duck, finished the series without a half-century to their credit. That West Indies still managed to post competitive totals without them would count among their takeaways from the series. On Saturday, both batsmen fell off successive deliveries in the 12th over, but West Indies recovered to add 93 more. Tumi Sekhukhune, the 19-year-old fast bowler playing in only her fourth T20I, finished as the most economical bowler, with figures of 4-0-19-1.
South Africa were off the blocks quickly courtesy Lee's aggression, her 24-ball 42 containing 10 fours. Her 37-run stand for the first wicket with Laura Woolvardt in just four overs set the tone. Even though they lost two quick wickets, the trigger at the start allowed them to ride momentum through the innings.
Mignon du Preez, the former captain, played a calming knock in the middle, lifting the side from a slightly-wobbly 68 for 3. She made a 21-ball 25 to chip away at the target before Tryon and Marizanne Kapp fell within the space of six deliveries with the target within touching distance. Needing one to win off the last two balls, Saarah Smith collected the single off Shamilia Connell.
