Protea Women Post Gritty 232 in IOD Opener Against West Indies

(The Post News)– The Proteas Women showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately delivered a below-par total of 232-9 in the first ODI against the West Indies at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados on Wednesday.

After being put in to bat, South Africa’s innings was a stop-start affair. Tazmin Brits led the charge with a well-crafted 57 off 65 balls, while late fireworks came from Nadine de Klerk, who smashed 42 off 38 deliveries. In between, Sune Luus added a steady 32 off 53.

The visitors began solidly with skipper Laura Wolvaardt (27) and Brits putting on 73 for the first wicket, bringing up the fifty mark by the 11th over. But momentum shifted when Wolvaardt was run out in an unlucky mix-up, an early warning of the chaos to follow.

A series of rapid dismissals, including Shangase (run out), Brits (caught at deep midwicket), and Dercksen (bowled), saw the Proteas collapse to 105-4. Luus and Sinalo Jafta briefly steadied things with a 40-run stand, but more wickets followed in quick succession.

The real turnaround came in the form of a gutsy partnership between De Klerk and Ayabonga Khaka. The pair added 60 runs for the eighth wicket, with Khaka, known more for her bowling, playing a mature supporting role while De Klerk took the attack to the bowlers.

The Proteas will hope their total proves defendable, but they’ll know it could, and probably should, have been more.