Tazmin Brits played a crucial role in leading South Africa Women to a 50-run victory with a remarkable unbeaten 98-run innings in the opening T20I against West Indies Women at the 3W’s Oval, Cave Hill Campus in Barbados recently.
Brits was awarded Player-of-the-Match. She reached her total in only 63 deliveries, including nine fours and four sixes, taking her team to 183 for six in their 20 overs after they were sent into bat.
Brits displayed a superb batting performance as she came to her team’s rescue after they lost the early wickets of the opener, captain Laura Wolvaardt, and Marizanne Kapp, slipping to 25 for 2 in the fifth over.
She formed strong partnerships, including a 71-run partnership with Nadine de Klerk for the third in 10 overs.
Brits achieved her first T20I half-century in just 34 balls by smacking Jahzara Claxton for a 4 and 6 off consecutive deliveries two overs later.
Claxton broke the partnership in the same over, having de Klerk caught and bowled for 21 off 17 balls.
Brits then forged crucial partnerships with Miane Smit, Chloe Tryon and Karabo Meso, to carry South Africa up to a competitive total.
It was South Africa Women’s highest T20I score against the West Indies.
Claxton was the best bowler for the Windies, bagging 3-39 from her 4 overs.
The West Indies Women’s run chase faltered early due to losing wickets at regular intervals, with Qiana Joseph being caught by Tryon with just six runs on the board.
Realeanna Grimmond was run out for just four, and captain Hayley Matthews was caught by de Klerk off the Kapp for 19. West Indies were in trouble at 42 for 3 in the sixth over.
Six runs later, Shemaine Campbelle was back in the pavilion with 16 runs, and the run chase effectively came to an end when Shabika Gajnabi was bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba for a duck to leave the West Indies 49 for 5.
Jannillea Glasgow’s resilient unbeaten knock of 53 runs from 44 balls provided some resistance for the West Indies Women. She added 81 runs for the sixth wicket with Chinelle Henry, who made 26 from 32 balls, but their innings fell short as South Africa emerged victorious.
Kapp took 2-27 for South Africa.
