GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – West Indies women’s quest for a spot in the World Twenty20 Championship final finished in disappointment yesterday, when they slid to a 56-run defeat to New Zealand.
Chasing a daunting target of 181, West Indies faltered after a promising start to collapse to 124 for eight off their allotted 20 overs at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium.
Opener Stafanie Taylor slammed 40 from 33 balls at the top of the order but when she was disastrously run out in the 11th over, the West Indies innings went into terminal decline.
Earlier, Sara McGlashan top scored with 84 from 55 balls with six fours and two sixes to push New Zealand up to what would have always been a challenging total, after they were asked to bat first.
The Windies were doing well to keep last year’s losing finalists at 49 for two in the eighth over, but a 93-run third wicket stand between McGlashan and Sophie Devine put the game out of their reach. Devine slapped 27 from 22 balls with a four and a six but she and McGlashan fell in successive overs to leave the Kiwis on 153 for four in the 18th over.
New Zealand then scrambled 27 runs from the last 15 balls to further dent the Windies confidence.
Opener Pamela Lavine’s poor run of form continued when she was caught at the wicket for seven at 23 for one off off-spinner Aimee Watkins, who finished with three for 26.
Taylor, who stroked three fours and two sixes, added 41 for the second wicket with Cordel Jack (18) before the innings went into spin.
Jack pulled medium pacer Nicola Browne to McGlashan at mid-wicket at 64 for two in the 10th over and wickets then tumbled steadily to crush the West Indies hopes.
Taylor was run out in the next over attempting a second run and Deandra Dottin’s miserable run continued when she was caught behind swinging at Browne at 76 for four.
