Rain cut short South Africa’s chase with a result possible after only another less than three overs of play
That is when another rebuilding began: Dottin and Matthews took the score to 213, thus forming a union of a further 153 runs for the third wicket, with the runs coming at better than a run a ball. Matthews hit 51 off 63 deliveries in the partnership, slamming her first and third balls for four off Tryon. But it was Dottin who soon pressed the accelerator, cracking a six off Khaka in the 24th over, and following that up with 6, 6 and 4 off successive deliveries against Nonkululeko Mlaba in the 25th.
Dottin brought up her century from 113 deliveries, soon after which the first rain break stopped the match after 36.5 overs. But she continued to be aggressive once play resumed, hitting a further six boundaries in the near-nine overs that was possible. Dottin’s innings came off only 158 deliveries and featured 18 fours and four sixes, after which South Africa began a rain-curtailed chase.
But almost 18 overs into their reply, it began raining again only for play to not restart, as Dottin’s massive innings went down the drain. The second ODI of the four-match series takes place at the same ground on Monday.