DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC) — Stafanie Taylor and Juliana Nero both hit centuries in a record opening stand to fire West Indies Women to a massive 213-run victory over Ireland in the opening game of the ICC World Cup qualifiers here yesterday.

The exceptional Taylor stroked a measured 107 from 154 balls, while Nero got a run-a-ball even century, as they posted a record 204 for the first wicket after being sent in at the Krira Shikkha Protisthan number three Ground.

West Indies totalled 276 for four from their allotted 50 overs.

Seamer Pearl Etienne then snared three for 16, while left-arm pacer Stacy-Ann King (2-4) and left-arm spinner Shanel Daley (2-14) finished with two wickets apiece, to send Ireland tumbling to 63 all out off 30.1 overs.

West Indies made a rousing start with Taylor and Nero pummeling the Irish bowling to all parts of the ground.

While Taylor hit nine fours and a six, Nero stroked 13 fours and three sixes in an attacking innings.

For the 20-year-old Taylor, it was her third ODI century as she moved her career tally to 1,575 runs — the most by a West Indian woman.

“It felt special to get my third hundred and I was also pleased I was there to celebrate with Nero when she reached triple figures,” said Taylor, who won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in September.

“When I went to the crease I realised the pitch was ideal for batting and I knew I had the time to build an innings. I went out with the frame of mind that all I needed to be was patient and have them bowl to me where I wanted it. Batting with Nero, she made it pretty easy.

“She is a powerful player and that helped to take the pressure off me. We always bat well together and we talked between balls and analysed what we had to do. This was a good win and a great start for the team.”

Nero, meanwhile, said she was quite relieved to reach the landmark in her 58th match, after making her debut eight years ago.

“When I got the 100th run I felt both relieved and quite satisfied that I finally reached the landmark in West Indies colours,” she said.

“I have been playing for a while now and I always wanted to get a century for the West Indies. Now I finally got it and I will look to kick on in the coming matches. I am one of the most senior members in the team and I was happy I was able to put a platform for the team to build.

“It was tough going out there. The bowlers bowled pretty well early up but I decided to go for my attacking shots while Stafanie played the anchor role and we were able to put together a huge partnership.”

Ireland then crumbled in their turn at the wicket with only Kim Garth (24) and Cecelia Joyce (13), reaching double figures.

West Indies face Pakistan in their next match on Thursday.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES WOMEN

S Taylor st Waldron b I Joyce 107

J Nero run out 100

S Daley not out 23

D Dottin run out 2

S King c I Joyce b McCarthy 18

P Etienne not out 1

Extras (b1, w23, nb1) 25

TOTAL (4 wkts, 50 overs) 276

Did not bat: *+M Aguilleira, A Mohammed, S Selman, B Cooper, S Campbelle.

Fall of wickets: 1-204 (Nero, 37.3 overs), 2-250 (Taylor, 46.5), 3-252 (Dottin, 47.1), 4-271 (King, 49.3)

Bowling: Garth 9-1-33-0, McCarthy 9-0-51-1, Richardson 10-1-43-0, Whelan 10-1-52-0, Tice 4-0-36-0, I Joyce 8-0-60-1.

IRELAND WOMEN (target: 277 runs from 50 overs)

C Joyce c Cooper b Etienne 13

C Shillington b Selman 0

J Whelan b Etienne 0

M Scott-Hayward c King b Etienne 1

*I Joyce run out 4

E Richardson lbw b Daley 0

K Garth c Dottin b King 24

L Delany c Taylor b Daley 7

L McCarthy lbw b King 3

+M Waldron run out 0

E Tice not out 0

Extras (b2, w7, nb2) 11

TOTAL (all out, 30.1 overs) 63

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Shillington, 0.2 overs), 2-2 (Whelan, 1.5), 3-10 (Scott-Hayward, 5.2), 4-20 (I Joyce, 9.3), 5-21 (C Joyce, 11.1), 6-30 (Richardson, 19.3), 7-46 (Delany, 23.3), 8-59 (McCarthy, 27.4), 9-62 (Garth), 10-63 (Waldron, 30.1)

Bowling: Selman 7-1-12-1, Etienne 7-1-16-3, Mohammed 7-2-13-0, Daley 6-2-14-2, King 2-0-4-2, Campbelle 1.1-0-2-0.

Result: West Indies won by 213 runs.

Points: West Indies Women 2, Ireland Women 0.

Player-of-the-Match: Juliana Nero.

Umpires: K Cross, Sarika Prasad.