Depressing run continues as West Indies Women lose

EAST LONDON, South Africa (CMC):

The depressing losing streak showed no signs of ending as the luckless West Indies Women crashed to a 10-wicket defeat to South Africa Women in their third match of the Twenty20 International Tri-Series here yesterday.

Not for the first time, West Indies Women's batting lacked verve and they could only muster an inadequate 97 for six off their 20 overs, after choosing to bat first at Buffalo Park.

Captain Hayley Matthews top-scored with 34 from 26 balls, while Shabika Gajnabi struck 33 from 34 deliveries in support.

South Africa Women hardly broke a sweat in reply, successfully chasing their target in the 14th over with Player-of-the-Match Tazmin Brits top scoring with an unbeaten 50 from 43 deliveries and Laura Wolvaardt stroking 42 not out from 39 balls.

The defeat was the eighth on the trot in T20 Internationals for West Indies dating back to their 5-0 whitewash at the hands of England Women in the Caribbean last month.

"It wasn't a good performance. We didn't bat well when we batted the first time, not getting what would've been a target we were aiming for," said a dejected head coach Courtney Walsh.

"(We) had a very, very slow start and didn't pick up any momentum from there until the captain Hayley and Gajnabi put together a partnership. This wasn't good enough.

"It started a bit too late so that tone was set and then South Africa knocked the runs off without losing a wicket. (We were) completely outplayed today."