TAROUBA, Trinidad – Despite the WINDIES Women losing the match, Natasha McLean continued her excellent form with the bat, in the ongoing Sandals International Home Series versus South Africa, in front of hundreds of spectators at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

However, before a ball was bowled, the fans which came out to take in the imminent spectacle, shared a heart-warming moment with the teams.

Both teams wore pink ribbons to bring awareness to the serious, worldwide issue of breast cancer.  They huddled up and took pictures, before entering the field of play to compete. This was a commendable gesture by both units, considering they have been engaged in an entertaining series of cricket for the past few weeks.

While the rivalry and competitive nature has been alive and well on the field of play, both the WINDIES and South Africa Women were able to put that aside and unite for such a worthy cause.

On the field of play, after scoring 38 and 42 in the first two matches, McLean was able to finally get past the half-century mark, batting through the innings again and scoring 57 (61 balls).

Stafanie Taylor’s 26 (30 balls) and Deandra Dottin’s 28 (15 balls) provided support for McLean during the innings, while the South African Women managed to restrict the regional side to 135-3 in their allotted 20 Overs.

Thereafter, the South African batting unit proved too much to handle for the WINDIES Women. Openers, Laura Wolvaardt (55* from 57 balls) and Lizelle Lee (54 from 38 balls) put on an opening stand of 89 in 76 balls, which all but took the game out of the WINDIES Women’s hands and eventually steered South Africa to their first victory of the T20 segment of this series by 8 wickets, with 6 balls to spare.

With the series now 2-1 in favour of the WINDIES, South Africa can draw level in the final T20 International on Saturday, when both teams meet again at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

The WINDIES will be looking to wrap up the series, after convincing wins in the first two T20 internationals, with the third having been abandoned due to a soggy outfield.

Both teams are preparing for the first stand-alone ICC World Women’s T20 competition, which will take place in the West Indies from November 9 – 24.

-ENDS-

SQUADS

WINDIES WOMEN: Stafanie Taylor (captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Sheneta Grimmond, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman

SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN: Dané van Niekerk (captain), Chloe Tryon (vice-captain), Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Suné Luus, Zintle Mali, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Robyn Searle, Tumi Sekhukhune, Saarah Smith, Faye Tunnicliffe, Laura Wolvaardt

MATCH RESULTS

SEPTEMBER

Sun 16             1st IWC One-day International – South Africa Women won by 40 runs – Kensington Oval, Barbados

Wed 19            2nd IWC ODI – No result – Kensington Oval

Sat 22              3rd IWC ODI – WINDIES Women won by 115 runs – Kensington Oval

Mon 24            1st Twenty20 International – WINDIES Women won by 17 runs – Kensington Oval

Fri 28              2nd T20I – WINDIES Women won by 9 wickets- Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad

Sun 30             3rd T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy – Abandoned

OCTOBER

Thu 4               4th T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy – South Africa Women won by 8 wickets

REMAINING MATCH

October

Sat 6                5th T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy

-CWI