BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):
West Indies Women wasted an impressive century from veteran Stafanie Taylor, as Australia Women’s strong showing with the bat propelled them to a dominant 103-run victory in the opening Women’s One-Day International (WODI) on Friday.
Taylor scored an unbeaten 105 off 129 balls, her eighth WODI century and first in almost five years, but she got little support, as the Windies Women limped to 238 for eight in 50 overs in response to their opponent’s 341.
It was the complete opposite of Australia’s innings, where six of their first seven batters scored over 40 to propel them to a massive total after electing to bat first at Warner Park.
Faced with a run rate of almost seven runs an over, it was always going to require a herculean effort from the home side’s batters to topple the number one-ranked Aussies.
They didn’t get off to the best of starts, with Kim Garth trapping Qiana Joseph lbw for 12 with just 18 runs on the board.
Taylor joined captain Hayley Matthews at the crease and the two looked promising during a 40-run partnership in seven overs that carried them to 58 for one in the 12th over.
But Garth struck a huge blow when she had Matthews caught at deep square leg for 22, attempting a pull shot.
They then fell deeper into trouble when Deandra Dottin was unluckily run out for six, with Taylor’s straight drive deflecting off the hands of bowler Ashleigh Gardner and into the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Dottin out of her crease, to leave them 76 for three.
In need of a partnership, the Windies resuscitated their chase through the efforts of Taylor and Chinelle Henry.
Henry, back in the side after missing the final T20I with an injury to her left hand, contributed 38 runs in a partnership worth 73 for the fourth wicket.
During that time, Taylor reached her half-century off 57 balls by hitting Darcie Brown over the leg side for a huge six.
They carried the score to 149 for three in the 30th over before Henry, who was dropped on 35, was bowled by Georgia Wareham.
The West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals thereafter, with Jannillea Glasgow, Shemaine Campbelle and Jahzara Claxton all falling cheaply to see them slip to 216 for seven.
Taylor, who was given a lifeline on 94, was not to be denied though, eventually reaching three figures off 125 balls by dabbing Wareham behind third man for a boundary.
By then the outcome was long decided, with the run rate having far skyrocketed out of the reach of the Windies.
Garth was Australia’s best bowler with 3-37, while Gardner took 2-44.
Earlier, the Aussies seized control of the match through a sterling batting performance that put the home side under pressure from the get-go.
Openers Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll put on 75 runs in 10.3 overs to give them the perfect start.
When Afy Fletcher struck to dismiss Voll after she had scored 42 off 32 balls, Litchfield, who topscored with 77 from 72 balls, along with useful knocks from Nicola Carey (49), captain Sophie Molineux (47), Ellyse Perry (44) and Player-of-the-Match Wareham, who made 42, kept the runs flowing.
Fletcher starred with the ball for the Windies, taking 3-83 and Taylor snared 2-31.
The second WODI is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.
