Windies women suffer first defeat

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (CMC):

Feeble batting condemned West Indies to their first defeat in the ICC Women's World Challenge yesterday, when South Africa completed a six-wicket victory.

West Indies women failed to defend a target of 162, as the South Africans hit the jacpot with 64 balls remaining in the fourth round match at the North-West University.

The result meant that the host nation remain the only unbeaten team in the competition, which concludes tomorrow.

Choosing to bat, West Indies women endured their worst batting performance of the competition and were dismissed for 161 in 46.3 overs.

Some of the West Indies women batters got starts, without carrying on, as Stacy King hit the top score of 38 from 67 balls, the captain Merissa Aguilleira made 28, Shanel Daley added 23 and Stafanie Taylor got 20.

Sunette Loubser, Dinesha Devnarain and Shabnum Ismail each collected two wickets for the South Africans.

West Indies looked steady at 61 for one in the 14th over, only to lose three wickets - two to Devnarain - to wobble on 61 for four.

West Indies women fell away to 93 for six in the 29th over, but Daley, daughter of former Jamaica all-rounder Aaron Daley, helped to beef-up the innings in two stands with King and Tramayne Smartt.

Daley's dismissal - run out in the 44th over - triggered another collapse that saw West Indies women lose their last three wickets for six runs in 17 balls.

West Indies' bowlers were put under pressure early, when South Africa openers Trisha Chetty and Shandre Fritz put on 33 in less than six overs for the first wicket.

After Daley held a return catch to dismiss Chetty for 11, the South Africans continued to coast and a stand of 62 for second wicket between Fritz and their captain, Cri-Zelda Brits, put them firmly course for victory.

Fritz led the way with 43, Brits made 31, Marizanne Kapp was not out on 25 and Mignon du Preez got 22.

Taylor was the West Indies' most impressive bowler. She snared du Preez in 9.2 overs that cost just 19 runs.

West Indies face Pakistan in their final match of the competition at the same venue.

WEST INDIES WOMEN (50 overs maxium)

S. Taylor lbw b Loubser 20

J. Nero cBrits b Ismail 8

+M. Aguilleira c Letsoalo b Devnarain 28

C. Jack b Loubser 5

D. Dottin c and b Devnarain 0

S. King run out (Loubser) 38

S. Campbelle lbw b van Niekerk 4

S. Daley run out (Ismail) 23

T. Smartt lbw b Ismail 13

A. Mohammed run out (Ismail) 1

S. Selman not out 1

Extras (lb9, w10, nb1) 20

TOTAL (all out, 46.3 overs) 161

Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Nero, 3.3 overs); 2-61 (Taylor, 13.4); 3-61 (Aguilleira, 14.2); 4-61 (Dottin, 14.4); 5-82 (Jack, 23.3); 6-93 (Campbelle, 28.6); 7-127 (King, 38.3); 8-155 (Daley, 43.5); 9-160 (Mohammed, 45.5)

Bowling: van Niekerk 10-1-28-1, Ismail 8.3-0-40-2, Kapp 1-0-10-0, Devnarain 5-1-21-2, Loubser 10-3-19-2, Letsoalo 9-1-23-0, Taai 3-0-11-0

SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN (target: 162 runs off 50 overs)

+T. Chetty c and b Daley 11

S. Fritz run out (Taylor/+Aguilleira) 43

C. Brits c and b Jack 31

M. du Preez c Jack b Taylor 22

M. Kapp not out 25

A. Taai not out 13

Extras (lb2, w13, nb2) 17

TOTAL (4 wkts, 39.2 overs) 162

D. van Niekerk, S. Loubser, D. Devnarain, S. Ismail, M. Letsoalo did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-33 (+Chetty, 5.5 overs); 2-95 (Fritz, 21.4); 3-98 (Brits, 23.2); 4-135 (du Preez, 31.4)

Bowling: Selman 3-0-20-0, Daley 8-0-37-1, Taylor 9.2-3-19-1, Dottin 1-0-5-0, Campbelle 2-0-16-0, Mohammed 9-0-31-0, Jack 5-1-17-1, Smartt 1-0-6-0, King 1-0-9-0

Result: South Africa Women won by six wickets

Points: South Africa Women 2, West Indies Women 0

Toss: West Indies Women

Umpires: P. Makagamatha, B. Mantle

Matchreferee: T. Barnes