Windies face South Africa in crunch clash

Overview
**Windies v South Africa**WT20 Match 12
Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh haven’t won anything so far – though Sri Lanka have a point from the washout against England, who are on top of the table – and looking at rankings and form, the game between hosts Windies and South Africa could well become a virtual knockout contest.

The Windies have played one, against Bangladesh, and won comfortably on a pitch where run-scoring was tough. All they put up after being asked to bat was 106/8, with Stafanie Taylor (29) and Kycia Knight (32) scoring most of the runs.

Then they found their star, a familiar one, in the form of Deandra Dottin, who cut a swathe through the Bangladesh batting with 5/5 in 3.1 overs. None of the Bangladeshis got to double figures, and the Windies scripted a 60-run win.

Elsewhere, South Africa were one of the last teams to take the field, coming into the game against Sri Lanka with big question marks around their batting, which had faltered in the warm-up games.

Fortunately for them, their bowlers – Shabnim Ismail (3/10) and Marizanne Kapp (1/13) in the main – made sure the batters didn’t have too much to do. Sri Lanka were kept to 99/8, and Kapp (38) and captain Dane van Niekerk (33*) then knocked off the runs with nine balls in hand.

Not much to choose between the two sides on that evidence, but South Africa have already had a feel of the conditions in Gros Islet, where their game was played, unlike the Windies, whose opener was in Guyana. Will that make a difference?

As such, these are two excellent bowling units, so the match could well be decided by the batters – whichever unit performs better has the advantage.

Key players

Deandra Dottin (Windies): There aren’t many better all-rounders in the women’s game. She’s the fifth-best batter in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings and the No.4 all-rounder; the 43rd rank among bowlers belies her ability. She has already put in one starring role with the ball and has promised to do the same with the bat – “I have two more coming for sure”. That’s centuries she is talking about. South Africa better beware.

**Marizanne Kapp (South Africa):**The 28-year-old stalwart was in excellent form with ball and bat in South Africa’s first game, and will be looking to carry on in the same vein. She forms an excellent pair with Shabnim Ismail when her team bowl, but it’s with the bat that she must also play a key role in what is a slightly wobbly batting order.

Conditions

Not much has changed in terms of the forecast – rain! – but after the first fixture in St Lucia was washed out, we have had two full games. The scores have been low there, though, something for the teams to note.

Squads

Windies: Stafanie Taylor (c), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Natasha Mclean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman

South Africa: Dane Van Niekerk (c), Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Zintle Mali, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Robyn Searle, Tumi Sekhukhune, Saarah Smith, Chloe Tryon, Faye Tunnicliffe, Laura Wolvaardt