JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, CMC – Captain Stafanie Taylor struck an invaluable half century as part of a solid all-round performance to power West Indies Women to a convincing series-levelling 45-run victory over South Africa Women in the second Twenty20 International here yesterday.
Sent in at the New Wanderers Stadium, the Windies Women marched to 143 for six off their 20 overs with Taylor top-scoring with an attractive 63.
The Jamaican then captured 2-17 from four overs of off-spin as the Proteas Women crashed to 98 all out in the 19th over.
The third and final game is set for Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday.
West Indies Women had a poor start, losing openers Kycia Knight (4) and Hayley Matthews (1) cheaply to seamer Shabnim Ismail (3-25), to slip to 17 for two in the third over.
Knight top-edged a pull to point off the fourth delivery of the opening over while Matthews was taken at mid-off off a leading edge.
Taylor and Deandra Dottin, who scored 19, then put on 68 for the third wicket to put the innings back on course.
The right-handed Taylor faced 53 balls and struck seven fours and one six while Dottin once again looked in good touch in gathering two fours off 27 deliveries.
Dottin missed a straight delivery and was trapped lbw to seamer Marcia Letsoalo in the 13th over and Taylor followed in the 16th over with 15 runs added, holing out to long on off 20-year-old leg-spinner Sune Luus.
Stalling at 100 for four, West Indies Women got the required momentum from a 36-run, fifth wicket partnership between Stacy-Ann King and Kyshona Knight.
King struck a cameo 16-ball 24 with two fours and two sixes – both of which came in the penultimate over from left-arm seamer Moseline Daniels – while Kyshona stroked a run-a-ball 16.
In reply, the Proteas Women struggling from the outset, fell further and further behind the run rate and failed to find a way back.
No player reached 20 with top scorer Marizanne Kapp (17), one of only four players in double figures. The hosts were 51 for two in the ninth over but lost their last eight wickets for 47 runs.
Taylor was supported by off-spinner Anisa Mohammed (2-16) and Matthews (2-17).
New ball bowler Tremayne Smartt struck early when she had Dane van Niekerk caught at slip by Matthews for five at 12 for one in the third over.
Speedster Shamilia Connell then followed up by removing opener Lisa Goodall for seven at 29 for two in the sixth over, taken at cover by Taylor.
South Africa Women continued to lose wickets steadily as the runs dried up.
