Niekerk guides South Africa Women to comfortable win

A combined bowling effort from South Africa Women, led by Dane van Niekerk's five-wicket haul, secured a comfortable 80-run win over West Indies Women in St Kitts, in the first of five ODIs. Niekerk, a 19-year old legspinner, took a hat-trick and achieved her career-best figures to restrict West Indies to 126.

Chasing 207, West Indies faltered in the first over when they lost opener Stafanie Taylor for a duck. They were soon 24 for 3 as Marizanne Kapp (2 for 17) got rid of both the openers. Merissa Aguilleira stitched a stable and brisk 65-run partnership with Deandra Dottin (26), but once the captain was dismissed, Dane van Niekerk ran through the lower order as the hosts lost their last six wickets for 34 runs.

South Africa had earlier chosen to bat after winning the toss and their openers put up 49 for the first wicket. Trisha Chetty and Mignon du Preez steered them past the 100-run mark but once this partnership was broken, West Indies did not let any batsman settle down and took their next four wickets for 18 runs. Cameos from Yolandi Potgieter and Sunette Loubser took them to 206, which proved to be too much for the hosts.