Brits 101, Wolvaardt 75, Klaas four-for give SA series win
West Indies never recovered from their score of 40 for 6 in their revised chase of 288
ESPNcricinfo staff
18-Jun-2025 • 9 hrs ago
South Africa won the ODI series 2-1 • Cricket South Africa
South Africa 278 for 6 (Brits 101, Wolvaardt 75, Fletcher 3-53) beat West Indies 121 (Claxton 43, Alleyne 32, Klaas 4-25) by 166 runs (DLS method)
A commanding opening stand of 184 led by Tazmin Brits' century, later followed by Masabata Klaas' four-wicket haul gave South Africa a series win with a comprehensive 166-run victory in the decider as they beat West Indies by DLS method in Cave Hill. Klaas took three wickets in her first two overs, which left West Indies reeling on 40 for 6 in pursuit of their revised target of 288, and the hosts were eventually bundled for 121 in the rain-affected match.
West Indies had little to feel good about their toss decision to bowl first. They could not get a wicket for 26.1 overs and the opening stand between Brits and the captain Laura Wolvaardt was South Africa's tied-fifth-highest in WODI history and came at a run-rate of more than seven.
Brits started the barrage with two fours against Zaida James in the third over before carting Jannillea Glasgow for a six and four the next over to get South Africa going. Wolvaardt caught up with a couple of fours just before the powerplay ended and they brought up their century stand in the 13th over. Brits reached her fifty off 45 balls and Wolvaardt off 41. A flurry of sixes from Brits helped her bring up her century in 89 balls just after the halfway mark of the innings. Brits fell for a 91-ball 101 when she handed a catch to Hayley Matthews off Afy Fletcher. Fletcher finished with 3 for 35 with twin strikes of Wolvaardt for 75 and Nondumiso Shangase in her last over.
The experienced Marizanne Kapp didn't let South Africa's advantage slip away, despite them sliding from 200 for 1 to 264 for 6 with a couple of rain interruptions in between. She made an unbeaten 34, and South Africa were on 278 for 6 in 45.5 overs when the next rain break called the end of their innings.
West Indies were in deep trouble right from the start as the visitors snapped in-form Matthews for 8 to reduce the hosts to 10 for 4 as their top four managed just ten runs together. They were soon 29 for 5 and 40 for 6 with twin strikes from Nonkululeko Mlaba before Aaliyah Alleyne and Jahzara Claxton added 65 to stretch the hosts past 100. Klaas then returned to break the stand to help South Africa achieve the looming result by bowling out the hosts in 27.5 overs. Stafanie Taylor didn't bat; she was declared absent hurt.