opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Friday.

Sports Desk News :: Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits fired South Africa to beat the West Indies. 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.

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.