Stafanie Taylor continued with her devastating form as the West Indies Women powered to a five-wicket victory over South Africa Women at Boland Park on Friday. Taylor crafted a magnificent unbeaten 108 off 117 balls which included 11 fours at a racy strike rate of 92.30. South Africa's bowlers struggled to contain the visitors, who took advantage of defensive field placings and inconsistent bowling, as they chased down the total with nine overs to spare.

"We let ourselves down in the field today, we praise ourselves on our fielding but today our minds were not there. We missed a lot of run-out opportunities and that could have been the difference between winning and losing, " said captain, Sunette Loubser.

West Indies won the toss and put the hosts in to bat on a slow and flat Boland Park wicket. Kirstie Thomson and Trisha Chetty, opening the batting for the first time together, were cautious in their approach, and treaded to 36 without loss in the ninth over. Debut nerves from Thomson led to the West Indies' first breakthrough with the run-out of Trisha Chetty (25) who was looking good against the opening attack of Shakera Selman and Shelan Daley.

Thomson (17) was involved in her second run-out, this time it was her wicket that perished leaving South Africa at 51-2 after 13 overs. Cri-Zelda Brits (48) and Mignon du Preez (25) put together a 61-run partnership which stabilised the innings, before du Preez departed off a top edge in search for quick runs. South Africa ended on 181-7, largely due to a flurry of runs from Alicia Smith (25) and Shandre Fritz (21) towards the end of the innings and felt that it was a competitive score on a low-scoring wicket.

"We always felt that 180 was a good total on this wicket but we let ourselves down when it came to defending the total. We bowled in all of Stafanie's good areas and she capitalised hard on that," said Loubser.

West Indies got its run-chase to a positive start with Taylor and Amanda Samaroo putting on 56 for the first-wicket partnership. Taylor held her composure, despite a double-strike from Alicia Smith, who had Samaroo caught behind on 16 and bowled Pamela Lavine for one. Taylor was the lone standout in the West Indies batting but starred in crucial partnerships with Cordel Jack (24), Stacy-Ann King (39) and finished the total off together with Deandra Dottin (39*).

South Africa Women 181-7

Cri-Zelda Brits 48, Alicia Smith 25, Mignon du Preez 25, Trisha Chetty 25

West Indies Women 182-5

Stafanie Taylor 108*

Alicia Smith 2-37; Sunette Loubser 2-39

West Indies Women won by five wickets