Hayley Matthews Stars as West Indies Level Series Against South Africa

Hayley Matthews’ unbeaten 63 and two wickets apiece from Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack inspired West Indies to a six‑wicket win over South Africa at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados, levelling the three‑match T20I series 1‑1 ahead of Monday’s decider.

Six of South Africa’s batters reached double figures, but none passed 21, allowing the hosts to restrict them to 113 for 6. Matthews then iced the chase with a composed half‑century, guiding West Indies home despite early hiccups.

After being asked to bat first, South African openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits started solidly, with Wolvaardt striking boundaries off Jahzara Claxton and Shawnisha Hector in a 30‑run stand before falling for 16. Matthews, opening the bowling, returned in the sixth over to remove Marizanne Kapp for a duck.

Fletcher, the pick of the West Indies bowlers, started with five dots and claimed the wicket of Brits (14 from 21) in the seventh over as South Africa slumped to 40 for 3. Nadine de Klerk attempted to shift the momentum, finding the only six of the innings off Aaliyah Alleyne and adding 29 from 26 balls with Karabo Meso for the fourth wicket, taking the total to 69 for 3 in the 13th.

Fletcher then dismissed de Klerk and sparked another mini‑collapse of three wickets for ten runs, as Ramharack claimed wickets in successive overs. Annerie Dercksen and Meso added an unbroken 34‑run stand that gained momentum towards the end, with both boundaries coming in the final two overs that cost 18, bringing South Africa to 113 for 6.

Qiana Joseph gave the West Indies reply a quick start, hitting two boundaries off Nonkululeko Mlaba. Matthews started cautiously with nine from 17 balls as she weathered Kapp’s opening spell. Ayabonga Khaka claimed Joseph for 17 in the eighth over, ending a 41‑run opening stand.

While Matthews remained calm, her partners came and went, with Mlaba and Khaka controlling the run rate. Shawnisha Hector was dismissed by Masabata Klaas for three from 12 balls, and Mlaba removed Shemaine Campbelle (7) and Chinelle Henry (3) in successive overs to reduce West Indies to 77 for 4, leaving 37 needed from 35 balls.

Jannillea Glasgow kept the scoreboard ticking alongside Matthews despite a boundary drought between overs 13 and 18. But with 16 required from 12 balls, Matthews launched a six and a four off Khaka, making the 13‑run over the most expensive of the innings. Glasgow then finished it with the winning run off de Klerk, sealing a six‑wicket win for the hosts.

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