GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) — Captain Stafanie Taylor agonisingly missed out on her sixth One-Day International hundred and then returned to pick up three wickets, as West Indies Women crushed Pakistan Women by 109 runs in the third ODI late Wednesday night, to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

The prolific right-hander was left stranded on 98 as West Indies Women, asked to bat first, rattled up 281 for five at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium.

Taylor, in her first series as captain, faced 117 deliveries and struck six fours and received great support from former skipper, Merissa Aguilleira, who stroked 68 from 90 balls, to record her second half-century in three innings.

Kyshona Knight chipped in with a brisk 45 off 40 deliveries while opener Matthews struck a breezy 35 from 34 balls.

Left-arm spinner Anam Amin finished with two for 50.

In their turn at the crease, Pakistan Women never really recovered from slumping to 19 for two in the fifth over and were restricted to 172 for nine off their 50 overs.

Once again, Taylor forced her way into the spotlight, snaring three for 26 to help cripple the Pakistani innings, while seamer Shamilia Connell (2-28) and off-spinner Hayley Matthews (2-32) both finished with two wickets.

Only Javeria Khan, with an unbeaten 73 off 127 balls, managed to make it past 20 and was one of only four batsmen in double figures.

The result handed West Indies two more all-important ICC Championship points and once they can win tomorrow’s final ODI, they will find themselves tied at the top of the standings with powerhouses Australia.

West Indies Women were given a flyer by Matthews and Kycia Knight (17) who put on 45 from 32 balls for the first wicket.

Knight struck three fours off 14 balls while Matthews counted five fours off 34 deliveries but were two of three wickets to fall for 12 runs in the space of 29 balls, to leave the Windies Women struggling on 57 for three in the 11th over.

However, Taylor then took charge of the innings by anchoring two successive partnerships that wrenched the advantage away from Pakistan Women.

She added 130 for the fourth wicket with Aguilleira who counted eight fours, before putting on a further 78 for the fifth wicket with Kyshona Knight whose knock included five fours.

Taylor started the final over of the innings on 91 but just failed to get the required nine runs to take her to her landmark.

In reply, Pakistan Women had a terrible start, losing openers Marina Iqbal (6) and Sidra Ameen (7) cheaply, and these losses stalled the innings.

Javeria Khan then put her hand up, adding 32 for the third wicket with Nain Abidi (18) and a further 42 for the fourth wicket with Aliya Riaz (17), as Pakistan reached 93 for three at the half-way stage.

They lost their way, however, with Taylor slicing through the middle order, and their next six wickets crashed for 79 runs.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES WOMEN

+Kycia Knight c Sidra Ameen b Sania Khan 17

H Matthews c Sania Khan b Anam Amin 35

*S Taylor not out 98

D Dottin c Sana Mir b Asmavia Iqbal 0

M Aguilleira run out 68

Kyshona Knight c Aliya Riaz b Anam Amin 45

B Cooper not out 3

Extras (w14, nb1) 15

TOTAL (5 wkts, 50 overs) 281

Did not bat: S King, A Mohammed, T Smartt, S Connell.

Fall of wickets: 1-45 (Kycia Knight), 2-57 (Matthews), 3-57 (Dottin), 4-187 (Aguilleira), 5-265 (Kyshona Knight)

Bowling: Asmavia Iqbal 5-0-54-1 (w3, nb1), Sania Khan 8-0-44-1 (w1), Sana Mir 10-0-45-1 (w1), Anam Amin 10-2-50-2, Aliya Riaz 2-0-11-0 (w1), Javeria Khan 5-0-30-0 (w5).

PAKISTAN WOMEN

Marina Iqbal c King b Connell 6

Sidra Ameen c wkp Kycia Knight b Smartt 7

Javeria Khan not out 73

Nain Abidi b Dottin 18

Aliya Riaz lbw b Taylor 17

*Sana Mir lbw b Taylor 9

Iram Javed st Kycia Knight b Taylor 8

Asmavia Iqbal lbw b Matthews 12

Sania Khan lbw b Connell 2

+Rabiya Shah c Smartt b Matthews 3

Anam Amin not out 0

Extras (b1, lb3, w10, nb3) 17

TOTAL (9 wkts, 50 overs) 172

Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Marina Iqbal), 2-19 (Sidra Ameen), 3-51 (Nain Abidi), 4-93 (Aliya Riaz), 5-107 (Sana Mir), 6-125 (Iram Javed), 7-145 (Asmavia Iqbal), 8-152 (Sania Khan), 9-157 (Rabiya Shah)

Bowling: Smartt 10-2-31-1 (w1, nb3), Connell 8-0-28-2 (w3), Dottin 4-1-19-1 (w3), King 3-0-11-0 (w1), Taylor 10-0-26-3 (w1), Mohammed 7-0-21-0, Matthews 8-0-32-2 (w1).

Result: West Indies Women won by 109 runs.

Series: West Indies Women lead the four-match series 2-1.

Player-of-the-Match: Stafanie Taylor.

Toss: Pakistan.

Umpires: G Brathwaite, J Wilson.

West Indies Captain Stafanie Taylor plays a cut shot during the third One-day International against Pakistan Women on Wednesday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.

(PHOTOS: WICB MEDIA)

Merissa Aguilleira and Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies run between the wickets during the third One-day International against Pakistan Women on Wednesday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.

West Indies fielder Stacy-Ann King catches Marina Iqbal during the third One-day International against Pakistan Women on Wednesday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.