West Indies Women edged to a two-run victory and a 3-0 T20 series whitewash against South Africa Women at Boland Park in Paarl on Wednesday. The visitors came into the match with an unassailable 2-0 series lead, with pride and conviction all to play for in the dead rubber match.

South Africa’s batting was once again the let down, as it failed to chase the meagre target of 99 set by a weakened West Indies team. The visitors kept the bowling tight and the run rate steadily climbed despite a sturdy fourth-wicket partnership between Kirstie Thomson (32) and stand-in captain, Alicia Smith (44). Needing 11 runs to win in the final over and with wickets in hand, Smith was the key, but the cause was lost when her wicket fell, seven runs short of victory.

West Indies came into the match without three of its top batters in Stafanie Taylor, Pamela Lavine and Cordel Jack and struggled to set up a big total against a disciplined South African attack bolstered by Angelique Taai (1-9) at the death and Charlize van der Westhuizen (1-12) in the middle. Player of the Series Deandra Dottin top-scored with 52, with none of the other batters managing double figures. Ashlyn Kilowan (3-20) and Marcia Letsoalo (2-16) were the main wicket-takers, and would have been satisfied with their performance going into the innings break.

"We need to go back and work on our batting strategies when it comes to certain situations in a match. Our approach needs to be in line with what is happening on the field," said Smith.

West Indies will not only leave home with the T20 series trophy, but with a slight mental edge over the Proteas. South Africa opens its campaign against the same opponents at the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in the West Indies in May 2010 and will not be in competitive action until then. The odds between the teams are still even after the seven-match tour, neither team claimed absolute dominance with the hosts coming out 2-1 victors in the ODI Series and the West Indies holding the edge in the T20 series.