DUBAI: Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits fired South Africa to a crushing 10-wicket win over the West Indies in their opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup on Friday.
Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba set up the win with bowling figures of 4-29 to restrict 2016 champions West Indies to 118-6 in Dubai.
Wolvaardt, who hit 59, and Brits, who made 57, then took charge to steer last year's finalists to 119-0 in 17.5 overs.
Wolvaardt was tested early in her knock by the West Indies bowlers but once she found rhythm, the right-handed opener reached her 50 in 45 balls.
"Not that easy," Wolvaardt said of her performance in the extreme heat of Dubai. "One of the harder knocks I have had physically, especially after fielding first."
Brits also raised her half-ton in 45 balls and ended her knock with six boundaries.
Wolvaardt survived reprieves on five and 33 -- on both occasions a return catch dropped by the bowler and on the first West Indies' Zaida James getting cut on her jaw when the ball ricocheted off the hand.
James, a left-arm spinner who shared the new ball with Chinelle Henry, left the field with a swollen jaw after just bowling one ball of her first over and never returned.
Earlier, the West Indies suffered from regular wicket-fall and struggled to put up a fighting total despite an unbeaten 44 from number-three batter Stafanie Taylor.
Marizanne Kapp, a medium-fast bowler, struck first with the wicket of skipper Hayley Matthews, out for 10, and soon Mlaba sent back Qiana Joseph, for four.
Mlaba, named player of the match, kept the batters in a spin with her change of pace and angle and took two wickets in two overs to flatten the West Indian batting.
Kapp returned figures of 2-14 including the wicket of Deandra Dottin, who reversed her retirement decision for this edition of the tournament.
"It was a very disappointing game and not the way we wanted to start," said Matthews. "We have a game in two days' time and we have to bounce back quickly."
West Indies face Scotland on Sunday at the same venue, called the ring of fire due to the floodlights all around the ground. South Africa next take on England in Sharjah on Monday.
Bangladesh, Pakistan win openers
On Thursday, Bangladesh ended a 10-year wait to win a Women's T20 World Cup match as Pakistan warmed up for a mouthwatering clash with India by defeating Asian champions Sri Lanka.
On the opening day of the 2024 tournament, Bangladesh secured a 16-run win over Scotland after posting what appeared to be a flimsy 119-7 in their 20 overs.
Their bowling attack, however, tied the Scots down and restricted them to 103-7.
Later, Pakistan, who have never made it out of the group stages in eight previous attempts, beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs.
Pakistan made 116 in their 20 overs before restricting Sri Lanka to 85-9.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty described ending her team's long wait for a World Cup win as "very emotional" and suggested it would create "momentum" for the women's game at home.
"I would say that a win after 10 years, we all are very emotional because we have been waiting for this victory for a long time," said Joty who was playing in her 100th T20I.
"No matter how good the cricket we play, if it doesn't translate into victory, it means nothing. And I would say for women's cricket, after a long time, I feel like we have done something."
After winning the toss and batting first, Sobhana Mostary top-scored with 36 for Bangladesh.
Their bowlers then strangled newcomers Scotland in spite of Sarah Bryce's 49 not out from 52 balls.
Ritu Moni was named player of the match for her spell of 2-15 from four overs.
Pakistan staged a determined fightback to beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs with left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal claiming three wickets.
Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail and player of the match Fatima Sana all took two each for Pakistan against Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka.
Pakistan needed a crucial lower-order knock from their captain Sana to post a competitive total, having slumped to 84-8 after winning the toss and choosing to bat.
"We won the toss and we wanted a lot of runs but we didn't get. We still achieved the target in the game," said Sana.
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