POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, CMC – Teenaged Jamaican opener Stafanie Taylor scored a magnificent century as West Indies crushed the Netherlands by 148 runs to open their International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Challenge with a convincing victory yesterday.
The 19-year-old right-hander hit a superb 147 from 141 balls as West Indies, sent in to bat, rattled up 283 for six off their 50 overs at the Witrand Cricket Field.
West Indies then produced a stingy bowling effort as they restricted the Dutch side to 135 for eight from their allotted 50 overs.
Entering the tournament as favourites by virtue of being the highest ranked side in the six-team competition, West Indies stamped their authority from early to send a strong signal to their other opponents.
And it was Taylor who set the tone with a stroked-filled innings that contained 15 fours and a six.
She posted 50 from 49 balls for the first wicket with Juliana Nero who scored 11 but West Indies still slid to 87 for three in the 16th over.
Taylor then anchored two key partnerships to keep West Indies alive. She gathered 80 for the fourth wicket with Stacy-Ann King who struck 22 and then added another 113 for the fifth wicket with Deandra Dottin who hammered 59.
While she dominated the stand with King, she was forced to share the limelight with Dottin who matched her stroke for stroke in a partnership that required 95 balls.
Also a 19-year-old right-hander, Dottin lashed six fours and two sixes off a mere 58 balls as she stepped up the tempo at the end.
The Caribbean side’s bowlers then strangled the Dutch’s batting, drying up the scoring and keeping runs to a minimum.
Opener Esther Lanser top-scored with 39 but needed 92 balls while the other double figure contributor Helmien Rambaldo required 40 balls for her 27.
Medium pacer Dottin (2-15), off-spinner Anisa Mohammed (2-21) and fast bowler Shemaine Campbelle (2-28) claimed two wickets apiece as the Netherlands crawled from 95 for two in the 30th over to 112 for seven in the 36th.
West Indies will now turn their attention to Ireland who they face today at North-West University.