Wolvaardt, Brits star as Proteas cruise to opening T20 World Cup win

Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits carried their bats to take the Proteas to a clinical 10-wicket victory against West Indies in their T20 World Cup opener in Dubai.

Chasing 119 runs to win, Wolvaardt and Brits were superb at the top of the order as they easily chased down the target.

The West Indies weren't given any opportunities as Wolvaardt and Brits took control in the middle from the outset of the Proteas' innings.

Captain Wolvaardt was unbeaten on 59 off 55 balls (hitting seven fours), while Brits scored 57 off 52 balls (hitting six fours).

Needing 16 off the final five overs, Wolvaardt and Brits quickly took the Proteas over the line with 13 balls to spare.

After winning the toss and deciding to field first, Nonkululeko Mlaba starred with the ball as the Proteas restricted West Indies to 118-6 in their 20 overs.

Marizanne Kapp got the early breakthroughs as she dismissed Windies captain Hayley Matthews (10) and the dangerous Deandra Dottin (13).

Mlaba was superb, taking the early scalp of opener Qiana Joseph before coming back in her second spell and tearing through the West Indies middle-order.

Mlaba took two wickets in two balls in the 11th over and went onto finish on a career-best four for 29 in her four overs.

The experienced Stafanie Taylor was the only batter to give the Proteas a headache as she remained unbeaten on 44 off 41 balls (hitting two fours and a six).

Scores in brief:

West Indies 118-6 in 20 (Taylor 44*, Campbelle 17, Mlaba 4/29, Kapp 2/14)

South Africa 119-0 in 17.5 (Wolvaardt 59, Brits 57*)

Result: South Africa win by 10 wickets