South Africa vs West Indies Highlights, T20 World Cup 2024: South Africa Women won by 10 wickets

Right then, an impressive start for Laura Wolvaardt and Co. as they dominate the 2016 champions, West Indies, to launch their campaign. South Africa will now gear up for their next challenge against England in Sharjah on Monday, 7th October. Meanwhile, the West Indies must regroup quickly as they prepare to face tournament debutants Scotland on Sunday, 6th October. The action does not stop here as India are about to face New Zealand in Dubai in the second game of the day. The game is set to commence at 2 pm GMT, but you can tune into our build-up right away. Hop tabs and catch all the action. Cheers!

Laura Wolvaardt, the skipper of South Africa Women says that it was an all round performance from their side. Adds that it was not easy to bat and says that they were behind the time so had to operate with the spinners which somehow helped her manage and get it in time.

Hayley Matthews, the skipper of West Indies Women says it was a disappointing performance and not the way they wanted to start the tournament. Says that this is a long tournament and they hope to bounce back stronger and do well going ahead. Adds that South Africa bowled really well and they couldn't bat long and build partnerships. Talks about the blow Zaida James got and says it shouldn't be a large concern and hopes for her to make a comeback in the next game. 

Nonkululeko Mlaba is the Player of the Match for her brilliant four-fer. She says that this is very special for her and it feels like a dream to play for South Africa. Adds that her plan was simple to just target the stumps. Says the openers performed excellently well and ends by saying she is happy with the win.

It's now time for the Presentation Ceremony...

Earlier in the game, after the toss fell her way, Laura Wolvaardt opted to bowl first. The West Indies were rocked early, losing three wickets inside the first 7 overs. As has been a recurring theme for batting sides so far in the tournament, the West Indies struggled to gain any momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals. Stafanie Taylor fought a lone battle as wickets continued to fall around her, eventually carrying her bat through the innings. Thanks to a late contribution from Zaida James, the West Indies managed to scrape together 118. For South Africa, the left-arm spinner, Nonkululeko Mlaba was the star of the show with career-best figures of 4 for 29 while Marizanne Kapp played her part in denting West Indies early with a couple of wickets.

West Indies were banking on early breakthroughs to put South Africa under pressure. What they sought to achieve did not materialise as Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits gave the Proteas a steady start. To make matters worse, Hayley Matthews was left one spin option short as Zaida James went off, after taking a blow to the jaw in the second over of the chase. After being dropped on 33, Wolvaardt gave the West Indies no further chances, as she and Brits remained largely untroubled for the remainder of the chase. The pair steadily accumulated runs, both reaching their fifties and guiding their team to a 10-wicket victory with 13 balls to spare.

As clinical as a chase could be! An emphatic win for South Africa Women to kickstart their campaign. In their mission to go one better than 2023, the Proteas women have begun just the way they would have hoped.

Karishma Ramharack to Laura Wolvaardt, That's it! What a dominant performance this has been from the South Africa Women side. Too full, outside off, Laura Wolvaardt drives it through covers for one. South Africa Women beat West Indies Women by 10 wickets!

Karishma Ramharack to Laura Wolvaardt, Short, on middle, Laura Wolvaardt rocks back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a brace. Scores level now! Will Laura Wolvaardt go for a glory shot?

Karishma Ramharack to Tazmin Brits, Fuller one, on middle, Tazmin Brits moves forward and lifts it over mid on for one.

Karishma Ramharack to Tazmin Brits, Quicker one, sliding down leg, Tazmin Brits looks to flick it but gets a blow on her pads. A stifled appeal but turned down.

Karishma Ramharack to Laura Wolvaardt, Short, on middle, Laura Wolvaardt hangs back and flicks it through mid-wicket for one.

Qiana Joseph to Laura Wolvaardt, A low full toss, on middle, Laura Wolvaardt flicks it to mid-wicket for one. Just 5 more needed for the victory now!

Qiana Joseph to Laura Wolvaardt, Bowls it outside off, Laura Wolvaardt makes room and slashes it through point for a brace.

Qiana Joseph to Laura Wolvaardt, Fuller one, on middle, Laura Wolvaardt knocks it to the mid on fielder.

Qiana Joseph to Laura Wolvaardt, Bowls it on leg, Laura Wolvaardt flicks it to the fielder at backward square leg.

Qiana Joseph to Laura Wolvaardt, Short, on middle, Laura Wolvaardt eases it to the right of the bowler.

Qiana Joseph to Tazmin Brits, Short, on middle, Tazmin Brits sweeps it through square leg for one.

Hayley Matthews to Tazmin Brits, Too full, on middle, Tazmin Brits turns it to mid-wicket for one.

Hayley Matthews to Tazmin Brits, FOUR! Well played! Just 10 more needed now! Lands it on off, Tazmin Brits uses her feet and lifts it magnificently over the bowler's head for a boundary.

The physio is out for a mandatory concussion protocol for Tazmin Brits who got hit on the helmet the last ball! She looks fine but will have to go through the protocol. Right then, all set to resume. 

Hayley Matthews to Tazmin Brits, Short again, outside off, Tazmin Brits looks to reverse sweep it but gets a blow on her shoulder as the ball deflects back towards her helmet.

Hayley Matthews to Tazmin Brits, Short, on off, Tazmin Brits blocks it back.

Hayley Matthews to Laura Wolvaardt, Bowls it on off, Laura Wolvaardt eases it to mid on for one.

Hayley Matthews to Tazmin Brits, Fifty up for Tazmin Brits as well! Utter dominance from both the South African openers! Full, on off, Tazmin Brits eases it to short mid off for a quick single. The fielder collects the ball and tries a direct hit but misses. A direct hit would have been close. Can they finish with no loss?

Aaliyah Alleyne to Tazmin Brits, Attempts the yorker but ends up bowling a full toss, on off, Tazmin Brits takes a step out and drives it to long off for a single. South Africa Women are just 16 runs away now.

Aaliyah Alleyne to Laura Wolvaardt, Angles it in, on the pads, Laura Wolvaardt clips it to deep backward square leg and rotates the strike over.

Aaliyah Alleyne to Tazmin Brits, On a good length, outside off, Tazmin Brits knocks it to long off for a single.

Aaliyah Alleyne to Tazmin Brits, Lands it full and on off, Tazmin Brits firms her drive but straight to cover. 

Aaliyah Alleyne to Tazmin Brits, Pitched on a nagging length, on off, Tazmin Brits mistimes her shot back to the bowler.

Aaliyah Alleyne to Laura Wolvaardt, FIFTY for Laura Wolvaardt! A true captain's knock and she has led this chase right from the front. This is full and angling in on middle and leg, Wolvaardt helps it on its way to deep fine leg for a single.

Karishma Ramharack to Laura Wolvaardt, Short and on middle, Laura Wolvaardt punches it to deep mid-wicket for a single. After 14 overs, South Africa Women just need 20 more runs to win.

Karishma Ramharack to Tazmin Brits, On leg again, fuller, Tazmin Brits tries to sweep it fine but doesn't get more than a glove on it past the keeper for a single.

Karishma Ramharack to Tazmin Brits, FOUR! Too easy for Britz to put that away! Karishma Ramharack errs in line and slips it on leg, fuller in length, Tazmin Brits sweeps well and beats the fielder to her right at deep backward square leg for a boundary. 

Karishma Ramharack to Tazmin Brits, On a nagging length, on middle and leg, Tazmin Brits quickly rocks back and pulls it along the ground to deep square leg for a couple more runs.

Karishma Ramharack to Laura Wolvaardt, Keeps it short and on middle and off, Laura Wolvaardt whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Karishma Ramharack to Tazmin Brits, Full and on middle, Tazmin Brits steps out to the pitch of the ball and lofts it to long on for a single.

Afy Fletcher to Laura Wolvaardt, Outside off, on a fuller length, the ball skids off the surface and stays low, Laura Wolvaardt is taken aback by the lack of bounce on that one and misses to squeeze it out. South Africa Women need 30 runs off 42 balls.

Afy Fletcher to Laura Wolvaardt, Flights it up, outside off, Laura Wolvaardt with not much of foot movement looks for the expansive drive away from her body but misses.

Afy Fletcher to Laura Wolvaardt, Full and on off, Laura Wolvaardt punches it to sweeper cover for a couple more runs. 

Afy Fletcher to Tazmin Brits, On middle and leg, a genuine drag-down delivery, Tazmin Brits shuffles back and fails to pull it through the gap. Hits it straight to square leg. 

Afy Fletcher to Laura Wolvaardt, Tossed up, on off, Laura Wolvaardt drives it to deep cover for a single.

Afy Fletcher to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Nicely done! Floated full, on middle and off, Laura Wolvaardt charges down to the pitch of the ball and hits it straight past the bowler to the right of long on for a boundary. 

Hayley Matthews to Tazmin Brits, Turning into the pads, on a fuller length, Tazmin Brits tries to flick it off her pads but misses and wears it on the front pad. South Africa Women need 38 more runs to win off 48 balls.

Hayley Matthews to Laura Wolvaardt, Flatter trajectory, fuller and on middle, Laura Wolvaardt works it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Hayley Matthews to Tazmin Brits, Flighted up, on off, Tazmin Brits pushes it to backward point who dives to her left but lets the ball go through allowing the batters to cross.

Hayley Matthews to Laura Wolvaardt, Short and on middle, Laura Wolvaardt hangs back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Hayley Matthews to Tazmin Brits, Tossed up, just outside off, Tazmin Brits gets closer to the line of the ball and opens the bat face to steer it the left of backward point for a single.

Hayley Matthews to Laura Wolvaardt, Loops it up, on middle, Laura Wolvaardt drives it to long on for one.