Terrific Taylor powers Windies to series-leveller
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — A measured half-century from Stafanie Taylor helped West Indies Women to level their three-match One-Day International series against India, with an easy 42-run win here Friday.
Opting to bat first at Warner Park, West Indies rattled up 204 for six off their 50 overs with Taylor stroking 75 from 131 balls with eight fours.
Left-arm spinner Ekta Bist led India’s attack with three for 33.
In reply, India then slumped to seven for three in the fourth over, a position from which they never recovered despite Amita Sharma’s 33 and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 29.
They were undermined by teenaged seamer Shemaine Campbelle (2-16), medium pacer Shakera Selman (2-17) and off-spinner Anisa Mohammed (2-29) all of whom finished with two wickets apiece.
It was the flurry of wickets at the top, however, that set the tone for the India innings.
West Indies struck as early the fifth ball of the innings when Selman trapped Madhuri Mehta lbw for two to the fifth delivery of the innings by one that straightened slightly, at two for one.
Selman then induced an edge behind from Sulakshana Naik (4) at seven for two before Daley removed other opener, captain Anjum Chopra for one, two balls later with no runs added.
Two partnerships then threatened to derail West Indies’ victory bid. Firstly, Harmanpreet Kaur (29) and Mithali Raj (22) put on 45 for the fourth wicket before both fell within the space of six overs with 15 runs added.
Amita Sharma (33) and Mamtha Kanojia (27) then added an entertaining 58 for the sixth wicket. Sharma slammed four fours off 42 balls while Kanojia struck two fours and a six off 56 deliveries.
Once Mohammed had Kanojia stumped for the first of her wickets, India’s resistance folded.
Earlier, Taylor proved the mainstay of West Indies innings, anchoring a 60-run fourth-wicket partnership with captain Merissa Aguilleira that was the catalyst for the eventual total.
Aguilleira stroked 33 from 37 balls with three fours and a six.
The final and decisive game is scheduled for Warner Park on Sunday.
