FLORENCE HALL, Jamaica — West Indies women will be looking to draw level in the five-match One-Day International series with England, with the teams set to square off in the second encounter today.

Match time is scheduled for 9:30 am.

England Women narrowly won the first match after holding their composure best in a five-run victory.

Stafanie Taylor, the West Indies captain, backs her team to rebound after they looked well set to win game, seemingly coasting on 53-0 after dismissing England for 149.

“I think we had the game under control and it was just for us to apply ourselves and keep the scoring going. Their (England’s) bowling was decent, but it was nothing we couldn’t manage.

“I think we didn’t apply ourselves, so we went to the drawing board and we looked at our mistakes and we even took some positives from it. We know we have to bounce back and I know players are ready and it’s just for us as individuals to go out there and play our part,” she said.

West Indies Coach Vasbert Drakes said lack of execution was his side’s downfall.

“We are playing against a very committed England team and on any given day if you don’t execute that’s what’s going to happen,” he told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

“We recognise we can get better in terms of executing, especially in those middle overs as it relates to rotating the strike. Take nothing away from England because I thought they were very disciplined and they certainly did create pressure for longer periods and that’s the reason they were able to control the game and won,” Drakes continued.

Outside of the two quick wickets after their 53-run opening partnership, the West Indies’ run chase also lost momentum when Taylor, who had just gone out to bat, left the field with a hamstring concern.

By the time she returned the West Indies were in dire straits, and to compound matters, she was dismissed cheaply.

Both she and Drakes are confident she will be fit for action today.

“Taylor is a superstar, she’s a team leader and knowing her, she’ll make every effort to make sure she’s in a position to make a contribution to the team and she’ll try her best to be on the park,” said the head coach.

“For tomorrow’s game, I’m fine and as far as I know I’m actually in the team,” the player insisted.

Tammy Beaumont, the England opening batter, said maintaining the momentum is key.

“I think it’s really big to start really well in a series like this. Momentum is the biggest thing in cricket and once you can win the little battle between batters and bowlers and work out everyone, it becomes easier with each game,” she said just after having a session in the practice nets.

After the low-scoring first game on a pitch that offered uneven bounce, Beaumont predicts that if her team bats first they will be able to comfortably defend any total in the region of 200 runs.

“If we were to bat first — it’s obviously a bowler-friendly wicket early on — I think if we get anywhere near that 200 mark we’ll defend that easily,” she said.

After today’s game here in Trelawny, the attention will turn to three pivotal games at Sabina Park in Kingston, starting on Friday.

Those three games will count towards the ICC Women’s Championship contested between the top eight international sides, which will lead to automatic qualification for the top four teams to next year’s ICC Women’s World Cup.

West Indies women are currently second in the standings on 20 points — 10 behind current ODI World champions Australia — and just one ahead of England.

“It’s really important for us to take a two-nil lead into those ICC Championship games because they are important for us to qualify for the World Cup next year,” explained Beaumont.