Windies ease to 2-0 lead after Anisa Mohammed five-for

Mohammed’s 5/24 was her third five-for, and the off-spinner becomes the only woman to have as many.

Coupled with Hayley Matthews’ 2/16 early on, it kept South Africa to 101/8 in their 20 overs at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Friday, 28 September. The hosts needed just 15.3 overs to chase down the target.

Stafanie Taylor, the captain, and Natasha McLean, the big-hitting opener, were unbeaten on 35 off 30 balls and 42 off 46 balls respectively as they knocked off the runs. McLean struck two sixes and three fours in her innings to make a personal best score.

Dane van Niekerk, the South Africa captain, used seven bowlers, but a low total, misfields and dew that made gripping the ball tricky only added to the bowlers’ challenge.

Put in, the visiting batters earlier found it difficult to exploit the Powerplay. Lizelle Lee’s poor tour of the Caribbean continued as she was out for a 12-ball duck.

Matthews’ double-wicket over, the fourth of the game, had the visitors on 4/2 and she went on to complete an unbroken spell with 15 dot balls.

Chloe Tryon began with intent, adding a useful 28 with van Niekerk, but it was Mignon du Preez’s clever batting that gave the innings a much needed boost. She made 27 off 23 balls, in a 50-run stand with her captain.

At a time when pace off the ball troubled the batters, the batters jumped at the chance to attack Deandra Dottin, who was playing her 100th T20I – only the third woman and fourth player ever to reach the landmark. She conceded 22 off her three overs without a wicket.

Mohammed’s off-spin denied the South Africans a hit out at the death. She took four wickets in the final over, including a hat-trick. Among her victims was van Niekerk, the top scorer for her side with 36 off 48 balls.