Mlaba stars as Proteas women restrict Windies in WCup opener
Proteas women spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba produced a career best performance to help her side restrict the West Indies to 118/6 in their 20 overs of their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opening match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Mlaba was superb in picking up 4/29 in her four overs, while she was backed up well by Marizanne Kapp, 2/14, and the rest of the bowling department who were very disciplined.
At the start of play the Proteas won the toss and chose to bowl first and almost had the perfect start, but Qiana Joseph (4) was dropped by Chloe Tryon at slip off the bowling of Ayabonga Khaka in the second over.
However they soon got the breakthrough as in the next over as Kapp struck, having Hayley Matthews (10) caught behind by keeper Sinalo Jafta with the score 15/1.
Take a bow, Nonkululeko Mlaba! 🙌⚡️
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) October 4, 2024
An incredible 4 wickets in just 4 overs – pure brilliance!
Talk about making your mark! 👏🏏🇿🇦#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/8gN0qr88JB
That became 18/2 in the fifth over as Joseph was unable to use her chance, with her struggling before Mlaba set her up and bowled her for her first scalp.
Deandra Dottin (13) looked good on her return to international cricket, hitting a few boundaries, but just as she was looking to get going she popped an easy catch to captain Laura Wolvaardt at cover off Kapp as they slipped to 32/3 in the seventh over.
Stafanie Taylor, 44no off 41 balls (2x4, 1x6) and Shemaine Campbelle (17) managed to slightly rally with a 30-run fourth wicket partnership, as they took their side to the halfway mark on 57/3.
Mlaba then returned and immediately made the breakthrough, bowling Campbelle off her legs, before having Chinelle Henry caught behind by Jafta for a first ball duck as the Windies slipped to 62/5 in the 12th over.
At the start of her final over Mlaba got her fourth, having Aaliyah Alleyne (7) stunningly caught by Tazmin Brits at point, with the Windies on 83/6.
Taylor and Zaida James (15no) were unable to get fully stuck in, but managed to combine for an unbeaten 35-run stand over the closing overs to give their bowlers something to defend.
PROTEAS WOMEN: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinolo Jafta (wk), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka
WEST INDIES WOMEN: Hayley Matthews (capt), Qiana Joseph, Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Zaida James, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Shamilia Connell
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