Shabnim Ismail, Andrie Steyn take South Africa to series win

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Andrie Steyn compiled her fifth ODI half-century and combined with skipper Sune Luus in a brilliant 88-run partnership to lead South Africa to a series win in Johannesburg against West Indies on Sunday.

The duo joined hands after openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits fell in the 20s to Aaliyah Alleyne and Afy Fletcher respectively. Luus was the aggressor initially as she found boundaries at frequent intervals to push West Indies onto the back-foot.

While Hayley Matthews brought control with her off-spin and Afy Fletcher looked threatening, Steyn and Luus built the stand comfortably to put South Africa in the driving seat. By the time Luus was dismissed in the 35th over for 47 off 80 balls, South Africa had all but closed out the regulation run chase.

There was a further hiccup with Steyn falling to Anisa Mohammed, the same bowler who had accounted for Luus, in her next over. But by then the hosts had all but made the run chase a given and Chloe Tyron pummeled 20 in 17 balls to bring the victory sooner.

Earlier, opting to bat first, West Indies built a solid second-wicket stand between Deandra Dottin and Kycia Knight after the early loss of Rashada Williams, cleaned up by Shabnim Ismail. Dottin was in sublime touch, but it was Knight that scored brisker and kept the partnership flowing.

It took a return spell from Ismail for South Africa to breakthrough. The quick bowler had Dottin caught out in the 23rd over to break a 65-run partnership. Chloe Tyron then accounted for Knight, who was dismissed two short of a deserved half-century, and it opened the floodgates for the hosts.

From 104/2, West Indies succumbed to 125/6 within 10 overs as the hosts ran through the middle-order. Hayley Matthews, Shemaine Campbelle, and Alleyne fell in quick succession as South Africa's bowlers had them in deep trouble.

While Cherry Ann Fraser resisted a bit with Mandy Mangru, West Indies could not add much to the total and were bowled out for 174 with Ismail picking up 4/44 for South Africa. The run chase was then completed with minimal fuss as South Africa sealed a series victory with back-to-back wins.