West Indies Women Lead South Africa 1-0 in Rain-Shortened ODI Series

The West Indies Women secured a hard-fought four-wicket victory over South Africa in the first ODI of their three-match series at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados, taking a 1-0 lead. Qiana Joseph starred with a fluent 60 off 58 balls, supported by Hayley Matthews' steady 40 and Stafanie Taylor's unbeaten 30, as they chased down a rain-revised target of 180 runs. South Africa posted a competitive 232/9, with Tazmin Brits scoring a brisk half-century and Nadine de Klerk contributing a vital 42 late in the innings, but wickets at regular intervals and effective bowling from Karishma Ramharack and Aaliyah Alleyne limited their total. The match was interrupted by rain, leading to a reduced target and overs for the West Indies, but strong opening partnerships and disciplined batting ensured they stayed ahead of the DLS par score. South African bowler Ayanda Hlubi took three wickets but was unable to prevent the hosts from sealing the win. This victory marked a significant bounce-back for the West Indies following their recent whitewash losses to England.