Windies make it 1-2

The West Indies kept their series-win hopes alive with a convincing 8 wicket win over the Proteas in the first of three games at Roseau in Dominica.

Having won the toss the West Indies chose to bowl first, knowing that this was a must-win game in this best of five series of ODIs. South Africa looked tentative against the spin bowling of Shanel Daley and Staphanie Taylor. Trisha Chetty went early to Daley, but then Shandre Fritz and Mignon du Preez took the score to 41 without too many alarms, but albeit without too much pace. Fritz was then caught at slip off Taylor which started a middle order collapse from which the South Africans never really looked like recovering. They lost five wickets for 25 runs to stand at 66 for 6 more than half way through their overs. Taylor and the young Shaquana Quintyne had three wickets apiece. Susanna Benade and the lower order tried hard to hold it together, but the Proteas were bowled out for 120 at the start of the 47th over, Quintyne finishing with 4/14 and Taylor 4/22.

Having dropped Juliana Nero, it was the left-hander Kycia Knight, who had looked good down the order in the previous games, who came out to open with Taylor. South Africa opted for an all pace attack and the innings was already 10 overs old before leg-spinner Dane van Niekerk got her hands on the ball, by which time the West Indies openers were looking set. It was not until the 22nd over that they actually got a breakthrough, when Knight clubbed a full toss from Potgeiter to Benade at mid-on. But it was too little too late as Taylor made her way passed 50 and on to 71 before she lobbed a catch back to Sunette Loubser. Shemaine Campbelle and Deandra Dottin saw the Windies home without further alarms within 30 overs.

South Africa appeared to lack confidence in their own ability to win this game and will have to be more positive in the 4th ODI which starts this afternoon. If the Windies can pull it back to 2-2 today then they will be back in the box seat for the final game on Tuesday 15th January.

scorecard - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/588495.html

MD
13/I/13