BRIDGETOWN Barbados, CMC- Top West Indies cricketer Stafanie Taylor says she is anticipating a large turnout of spectators at Kensington Oval to witness the finals of the Women’s Twenty20 International Tri-nations series between the regional side and England tonight.
The tournament,the first International women’s series being played in the region, which also involved New Zealand, has been attracting large crowds comprising regional and international spectators. Taylor was speaking after the West Indies victory over England in a super over to end the preliminary phase of the tournament Thursday night.
“To be honest I like the support. People are actually coming out and supporting us and I must say I want them to continue supporting us,” Taylor said in an interview with WICB media. “Sunday is the final and I know it’s is going to be a bigger crowd and I hope everybody will come out and enjoy the game”. The super over became necessary after a tied game with both teams scoring 118 for seven.
Four runs were needed off the final delivery of the game and the England batters scrambled through for three runs after Danielle Hazell edged to third man to even the scores.
“I think it was actually good in the end,” said Taylor, the stand-in captain for regular skipper Merissa Aguilleira who was suffering from a flu.
“ I thought that after the two wickets that we got in the last over it was a kind of a booster and it was kind of sad that from the one the last ball they got three runs to tie the game but I think all in all we did well”.
Deandra Dottin thrilled her hometown supporters by leading the victory charge with two fours in consecutive balls as West Indies scored nine without loss after England posted six for one wicket in the super over. Taylor says the team favoured 17 year old spin sensation Shaquana Quintyne as the best choice to bowl the super over for West Indies.
“I think everybody decided that at the end of the day she had better stats than I did so we thought that it would be best for her to bowl,” said Taylor.
“I thought she held her nerve and bowled really really well. I am very proud of her”.
Both teams had already qualified for the finals and will therefore meet in a highly anticipated tournament decided from 7 Eastern Caribbean time Thursday night.