South Africa began their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a resounding 10-wicket victory over the West Indies in Dubai.
The South African bowlers, led by Nonkululeko Mlaba’s brilliant figures of 4/29, restricted the West Indies to 118/6.
Marizanne Kapp played a crucial role as well, dismissing key batters Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin early on.
The West Indies struggled after losing their top-order in the powerplay. Stafanie Taylor, with an unbeaten 44 off 41 balls, provided some stability, but Mlaba’s incisive bowling, including two wickets in two balls, kept the pressure on. West Indies couldn’t gain momentum, despite a brief recovery from Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle.
In response, South Africa’s opening pair, Laura Wolvaardt (59* off 55) and Tazmin Brits (57* off 52), dominated the chase. Wolvaardt set the tone with elegant shots, and despite the West Indies using eight different bowlers, they couldn’t break the partnership. South Africa reached their target with 13 balls to spare, marking a flawless start to their campaign.
This win sets a strong foundation for South Africa as they aim to go beyond their runner-up finish in the last tournament. The West Indies, meanwhile, will be looking to regroup for their upcoming games against Scotland, Bangladesh, and England.
