Taylor stars as WI Women tie series
West Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor (right) cuts for runs during her innings of 83 against England Women in the fourth one-day international cricket match at Sabina Park yesterday.
IT IS all square heading into the final game of the one-day international (ODI) series between West Indies Women and England Women.
The five-match series is currently tied at 2-2 after the West Indies recorded a 42-run win over their opponents in game four at Sabina Park yesterday.
The victory, which also provided two World Cup qualifying points for the hosts, was engineered by Player of the Match and captain Stafanie Taylor.
The multiple-time West Indies Women’s Cricketer of the Year first put in a brilliant batting display of 85 to pilot the home team to 223 for six before returning to claim three for 22 to help bowl out England Women for 181.
“After losing the third game there was a lot of introspection, and we asked the girls to show a bit more fight going forward,’’ explained Taylor.
“It was, therefore, pleasing to see that happened today and we hope it will continue on Wednesday in the final game.’’
CAGEY START
Winning the toss and electing to take first strike, the West Indies made a cagey start when they lost the wicket of out-ofform opener Hayley Matthews for eight with score on 12 in the fourth over. West Indies Women’s Shaquana Quintyne plays a pull shot during her innings of 41 against England Women during the fourth one-day international cricket match at Sabina Park yesterday. Behind the stumps is England Women’s wicketkeeper Amy Jones.
However, unlike the previous match, which was also played at the same venue, there was not to be a steady fall of wickets.
This was due largely to Taylor, who shepherded three key partnerships, the first of which was between herself and opener Shaquana Quintyne.
The two put on stroke-filled stand of 69 for the second wicket before Quintyne was caught for 41 in the 24th over.
This brought together Taylor and hard-hitting Deandra Dottin, who put on 36 for the third wicket before the latter was run out for 18.
The third alliance, between Taylor and former captain, wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira, put on 45 for the fourth wicket, with Aguilleira going on to hit a series-high 32 off 33 deliveries.
Set the highest total of the series to win, England got a brilliant start before falling away midway their innings.
CAUGHT AND BOWLED
Their opening pair of Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont put on 95 for the first wicket before the latter was caught and bowled by Taylor in the 20th over for 51.
This then brought to crease captain Heather Knight and, together with Windfield, they put on 38 for the second wicket, taking the score to a threatening 133 for one.
However, after Winfield was run out for 51, the visitors collapsed and only Knight, 36, and last Laura Marsh, 13, who was the last player dismissed, passed double figures.
Part-time off-spinner Matthews took two for 25.
“We did not take our chances when we were in the field and the West Indies capitalised,’’ declared England’s Knight.
“However, having said that, credit must go to the West Indies, how they kept us out of the game and we now look forward to the final fixture,” she added.
– Bishoo