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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Proteas recorded a statement 10-wicket victory over West Indies in their opening Women’s T20 World Cup clash on Friday to put themselves in an excellent position to progress to the knockout stage of the tournament. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At no stage did South Africa appear to be in any danger, choking the Caribbean side early with tight swing bowling before Player of the Match Nonkululeko Mlaba ripped through the middle-order.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Indies never recovered and only set 118 in their 20 overs with South Africa’s opening batters, Laura Wolvaardt (59 off 55) and Tazmin Brits (57 off 52) knocking it off comfortably with 13 deliveries to spare. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Indies’ bowlers posed very little threat to South Africa’s composed openers. There was only one half chance, with spinner Karishma Ramharack dropping Wolvaardt before she reached her 11th career half-century.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The pair, otherwise, took very few risks, with Brits only playing her trademark skip down the wicket and whipping it straight over the bowler’s head after passing 50, for the 12th time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other boundaries, seven from Wolvaardt and six from Brits, came along the carpet. It was the second 100-run partnership between the pair.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Mlaba on fire</b></h4>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2395876 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2269449.jpg\" alt=\"Proteas, T20 World Cup\" width=\"1737\" height=\"1158\" /> <em>Tazmin Brits of South Africa plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between South Africa and West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 October 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2395878 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2269504.jpg\" alt=\"Proteas , T20 World Cup\" width=\"1784\" height=\"1118\" /> <em>Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between South Africa and West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 October 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s bowlers were on the money from the outset, but the performance in the field was not without its flaws, with the team putting down two catches that would be expected to be taken.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mlaba was the star of the show with the ball for South Africa, collecting career-best figures of four for 29 in her four-over quota.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The left-arm orthodox spinner’s pace and control of length were on show as she went on to rip through the Windies middle-order.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Indies’ innings was held together by a composed 44 of 41 deliveries by the experienced Stafanie Taylor. The 33-year-old only struck one six and two fours, and she steadied the wobbling Windies batting ship. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ayabonga</span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khaka and Marizanne Kapp generated early movement with the new ball that immediately troubled the Caribbean batters. The Windies openers initially rode their luck, edging two early boundaries, as well as Chloe Tryon putting down a diving catch at slip off Khaka’s bowling with Qiana Joseph on strike.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nonetheless, Khaka kept the pressure on, bowling a maiden over to opener Joseph (four off 14) with four of the six deliveries in the over being missed by the aggressively swung willow. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mlaba eventually put the youngster out of her misery, knocking down her stumps, through the gate in the very next over.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other end, Kapp got rid of both of West Indies’ big threats – Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin –early with wonderful swing bowling. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The destructive batters mistimed two deliveries moving away from them, with Matthews caught behind by Sinalo Jafta and Dottin hitting it tamely straight to Wolvaardt at cover.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With West Indies languishing on 32 for three after seven overs, skipper Wolvaardt, surprisingly opted to give the all-rounders of Annerie Dercksen, Suné Luus, Nadine de Klerk and Tryon a run of overs.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Caribbean side used the period to try to rebuild with Shemaine Campbelle (17 off 21) and Taylor putting on 30 runs in the four overs for no loss. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But as soon as Mlaba came back into the attack for her second over she broke the Windies spine – first clean bowling Campbelle before getting one to grip and turn, while feathering the outside edge of Chinelle Henry’s blade.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aaliyah Alleyne was Mlaba’s fourth victim, a forward diving catch by Brits at cover, rescuing a bit of a drag down.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“[My plan was] to stick to the stumps, no matter what happens, make sure that you don’t leave the stumps,” Mlaba said after the match.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zaida James (15 off 13) and Taylor saw out the innings with a 35-run partnership to take the Caribbean side to 118 for six in their 20 overs. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s next opponent is England on Monday. A victory there will ensure half a foot in the semifinal stage.</span><b> DM</b>",
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"name": "Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between South Africa and West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 October 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)\n",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Proteas recorded a statement 10-wicket victory over West Indies in their opening Women’s T20 World Cup clash on Friday to put themselves in an excellent position to progress to the knockout stage of the tournament. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At no stage did South Africa appear to be in any danger, choking the Caribbean side early with tight swing bowling before Player of the Match Nonkululeko Mlaba ripped through the middle-order.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Indies never recovered and only set 118 in their 20 overs with South Africa’s opening batters, Laura Wolvaardt (59 off 55) and Tazmin Brits (57 off 52) knocking it off comfortably with 13 deliveries to spare. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Indies’ bowlers posed very little threat to South Africa’s composed openers. There was only one half chance, with spinner Karishma Ramharack dropping Wolvaardt before she reached her 11th career half-century.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The pair, otherwise, took very few risks, with Brits only playing her trademark skip down the wicket and whipping it straight over the bowler’s head after passing 50, for the 12th time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other boundaries, seven from Wolvaardt and six from Brits, came along the carpet. It was the second 100-run partnership between the pair.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Mlaba on fire</b></h4>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2395876\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1737\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2395876 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2269449.jpg\" alt=\"Proteas, T20 World Cup\" width=\"1737\" height=\"1158\" /> <em>Tazmin Brits of South Africa plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between South Africa and West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 October 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2395878\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1784\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2395878 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2269504.jpg\" alt=\"Proteas , T20 World Cup\" width=\"1784\" height=\"1118\" /> <em>Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between South Africa and West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 October 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s bowlers were on the money from the outset, but the performance in the field was not without its flaws, with the team putting down two catches that would be expected to be taken.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mlaba was the star of the show with the ball for South Africa, collecting career-best figures of four for 29 in her four-over quota.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The left-arm orthodox spinner’s pace and control of length were on show as she went on to rip through the Windies middle-order.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Indies’ innings was held together by a composed 44 of 41 deliveries by the experienced Stafanie Taylor. The 33-year-old only struck one six and two fours, and she steadied the wobbling Windies batting ship. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ayabonga</span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khaka and Marizanne Kapp generated early movement with the new ball that immediately troubled the Caribbean batters. The Windies openers initially rode their luck, edging two early boundaries, as well as Chloe Tryon putting down a diving catch at slip off Khaka’s bowling with Qiana Joseph on strike.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nonetheless, Khaka kept the pressure on, bowling a maiden over to opener Joseph (four off 14) with four of the six deliveries in the over being missed by the aggressively swung willow. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mlaba eventually put the youngster out of her misery, knocking down her stumps, through the gate in the very next over.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other end, Kapp got rid of both of West Indies’ big threats – Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin –early with wonderful swing bowling. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The destructive batters mistimed two deliveries moving away from them, with Matthews caught behind by Sinalo Jafta and Dottin hitting it tamely straight to Wolvaardt at cover.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With West Indies languishing on 32 for three after seven overs, skipper Wolvaardt, surprisingly opted to give the all-rounders of Annerie Dercksen, Suné Luus, Nadine de Klerk and Tryon a run of overs.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Caribbean side used the period to try to rebuild with Shemaine Campbelle (17 off 21) and Taylor putting on 30 runs in the four overs for no loss. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But as soon as Mlaba came back into the attack for her second over she broke the Windies spine – first clean bowling Campbelle before getting one to grip and turn, while feathering the outside edge of Chinelle Henry’s blade.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aaliyah Alleyne was Mlaba’s fourth victim, a forward diving catch by Brits at cover, rescuing a bit of a drag down.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“[My plan was] to stick to the stumps, no matter what happens, make sure that you don’t leave the stumps,” Mlaba said after the match.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zaida James (15 off 13) and Taylor saw out the innings with a 35-run partnership to take the Caribbean side to 118 for six in their 20 overs. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s next opponent is England on Monday. A victory there will ensure half a foot in the semifinal stage.</span><b> DM</b>",
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"summary": "South Africa — 119 for zero (Wolvaardt 59*, Brits 57*) — beat the West Indies — 118 for six (Taylor 44*, Mlaba 4-29, Kapp 2-14) — by 10 wickets in the opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup.",
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Tazmin Brits of South Africa plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between South Africa and West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 October 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)
Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between South Africa and West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 October 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)