A blistering 93 not out from Sune Luus, and an all-round bowling display from the South Africa bowlers overpowered Pakistan in a rain affected first ODI in Bloemfontein. A weather delay meant the contest had been reduced to 41 overs-a-side at the Manguang Oval. Put in to bat first, South Africa lost two early wickets but were steadied by skipper Laura Wolvaardt. She had reached 43 when she fell to Nashra Sandhu, leaving South Africa at 84 for 3 after 17 overs.

Luus then staged a recovery through the middle overs in the company of Annerie Dercksen: for the fourth wicket, they stitched together a partnership of 80 in just 12.2 overs. However, the acceleration was halted when Dercksen fell for a 37-ball 31 to Syeda Aroob Shah. It was the first of three wickets to fall in a clump: South Africa lost 3 for 6 at one point.

Luus ensured that no further wickets were lost in the remaining nine overs of the innings. She laced eight fours and one six on her way to an unbeaten 76-ball 93. But the finishing kick came from the keeper-batter Sinalo Jafta, who made a career-best 57 not out off 38 deliveries. Her strike rate of 150 would end up being the best from either side, and launched South Africa to a total of 260 for 6.

Requiring more than a run-a-ball from the get go, Pakistan struggled in their chase. They were reduced to 5 for 2 within their first four overs, with strikes from Ayanda Hlubi (1 for 22) and Nadine de Klerk (2 for 36). Sidra Amin (68) and Ayesha Zafar (81) stitched together a 116-run partnership for the third wicket to keep Pakistan in the contest, though they went just below six an over during these 20.3 overs.

By the time Amin had been ripped out by Luus – who finished with 2 for 31 from six overs – the required rate had risen above seven. Pakistan huffed and puffed, with Aliya Riaz’s quickfire 26-ball 31 keeping them interested. But when she was stumped off Nonkululeko Mlaba’s left-arm spin, Pakistan had been held down to 217 for 8.

Three overs remained, and they needed an improbable 44 runs off them.Tumi Sekhukhune was at the front of the mop-up job with a lower order that did not come close to threatening this equation. She picked up the remaining two wickets to finish on figures of 3 for 50, and Pakistan were bowled out for 223 to hand South Africa a 1-0 lead.

Brief scores:
South Africa Women  260 for 6 in 41 overs (Sune Luus 93*, Laira Wolvaardt 43, Sinalo Jaffa 57*; Nashra  Sandhu 2-45) beat Pakistan Women  223 in 38.5 overs (Ayesha Zafar 81, Sidra Amin 68; Nadine de Klerk 2-36, Tumi  Sekhukhune 3-50, Sune Luus 2-31) by 37 runs

[Cricinfo]

Deandra Dottin was given out obstructing the field as West Indies suffered their second narrow defeat as Sri Lanka clinched the ODI series 2-0.

In the 30th over, Dottin went for a sweep against Chamari Athapaththu, the ball slipped down the leg side and was called wide. But it ballooned off the pads of wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana back towards Dottin who tapped it away with her bat then caught the ball. Umpires Candace la Borde and Vrinda Rathi conferred and Dottin was given out.

It left West Indies 116 for 6 chasing 209 and they fell further to 146 for 8. However, Janiellea Glasgow nearly hauled them over the line with her second half-century in consecutive matches. She added 45 for the ninth wicket with Afy Fletcher, before she was last player dismissed, brilliantly held on the rebound at cover by Kavisha Dilhari.

Sri Lanka had produced some impressive pieces of fielding throughout the innings with Hasini Perera taking a sharp catch at slip to remove Chinelle Henry and Nilakshika Silva taking a brilliant catch at long-off from Shawnisha Hector’s lofted drive.

Vishmi Guneratne’s half-century had been the main contribution of Sri Lanka’s innings. A series of useful top-order partnerships had taken them to 166 for 4 in the 36th over before the last six wickets fell for 42 as Karishma Ramharack finished with 3 for 26.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 208 in 47.1 overs  (Chamari Athapaththu 32, Harshitha Samarawickrema 35, Vishmi Gunaratne 58, Nilakshika Silva 29; Hayley Matthews 2-44, Karishma Ramharack 3-26, Afy Fletcher 2-40) beat West Indies Women 194 in 48 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 30, Stefanie Taylor 27, Jannillea Glasgow 50, Afy Fletcher 20; Inoka Ranaweera 3-44, Sugandika Kumari 3-38, Dewmi Vihanga 2-33, ) by 14 runs

[Cricinfo]