COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Captain Merissa Aguilleira struck a boundary from the last delivery of the game as West Indies Women pulled off a dramatic two-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the opening Twenty20 International of the five-match series here yesterday.
Needing two of the final ball, the right-hander found the ropes to carry West Indies to 90 for eight in reply to Sri Lanka’s 87 for seven in the low-scoring encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium.
The equation should have been simple once Sri Lanka failed to raise three figures in the encounter, after winning the toss and batting. Eshani Kaushalya top scored with 25 from 22 balls while pacer Shakera Selman captured two for 14.
However, when West Indies slumped to 27 for four in the seventh over in reply, the contest was up for grabs.
Aguilleira combined with Stafanie Taylor who scored 25, to add 31 for the fifth wicket and revive the Windies innings.
While Aguilleira faced 39 balls and struck three fours, the usually prolific Taylor struck a single boundary in her 34-ball stay at the crease.
Taylor’s run out in the 14th over saw four wickets tumble for 27 runs and leave the game again as an open affair at 85 for seven.
In a tension filled last over, Tremayne Smartt was run out for two off the third ball with three runs required but Aguilleira held her nerve to see the Windies home.
The next game will be played tomorrow.
