South Africa Hold Nerve To Clinch Second Win

South Africa Hold Nerve To Clinch Second Win

South Africa now lead the five-match series 2-0 following their four-wicket win in Saint Kitts

©REUTERS / Action Images

South Africa Women 129-6 (van Niekerk 33no) beat
West Indies Women 128 by four wickets
Second One-Day International, Saint Kitts
Scorecard

Four wickets for Sunette Loubser and an unbeaten innings of 33 from Dane van Niekerk guided South Africa Women to a four-wicket win over West Indies Women in the second One-Day International in Saint Kitts.

In a low-scoring match, the West Indies were dismissed cheaply for the second game in a row but without van Niekerk's effort, the home side might well have levelled the series.

South Africa had lost two wickets before scoring a run but eventually prevailed, Crizelda Brits (18) and Yolandi Potgieter (16 not out) lending vital support.

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Batting first, the West Indies made a confident enough start as openers Stafanie Taylor (29) and Juliana Nero (16) put on 33 for the first wicket, but thereafter batting became a struggle.

Taylor would end up top scoring as Loubser dismissed Shemaine Campbelle (2), Anisa Mohammed (1), Shakera Selman (5) and Tremayne Smartt (2) as the West Indies lost their last six wickets for 26 runs.

Van Niekerk, who took a hat-trick during South Africa's 80-run win in the opening match, took a brace of wickets, as did Chloe Tryon as the West Indies were made to pay for seven of their players reaching double figures but failing to make telling contributions. Such was the tight nature of the game that a single half-century might have proved to be a match-winning effort.

The wickets continued to tumble as South Africa came out to bat when Shandre Fritz was trapped in front by Shanel Daley and Trisha Chetty was sent back in the same fashion by Taylor.

Captain Mignon du Preez and Marizanne Kapp joined forces to resurrect the innings with a partnership of 45 - the biggest of the game - before a clatter of wickets saw them slip to 58 for five.

Du Preez made 27 in 75 balls, Kapp 22 in 43 and Susan Benade was next to go for just three.

Brits and van Niekerk then took the score on to 90, taking their time and by doing so ensuring that South Africa were still in the game heading into the final 10 overs despite Brits falling to Campbelle for 18.

Van Niekerk struck just three fours during her 70-ball innings and she was there at the end, alongside Potgieter, playing just her second ODI, as the girls in green moved into a 2-0 series lead with three matches to play. The winning runs came in the 48th over of the run chase.

The third match is in Dominica on Saturday (12th January).

© Cricket World 2013