STELLENBOSCH, South Africa, CMC – West Indies Women cricketers opened their South Africa tour on Wednesday with a smart warm-up win by 65 runs over a Western Province Women’s XI.
Sent to bat at Van der Stel Cricket Club, the Windies – behind an unbeaten half-century from Stafanie Taylor — posted 214 for nine off 50 overs, and Western Province replied with 149 for nine off their 50 overs.
Taylor, a two-time West Indies Players Association (WIPA) Women’s Cricketer of the Year, stroked 62 not out off 38 balls with six fours and one six.
Stacy-Ann King scored 38 off 32 balls with four boundaries and Chadean Nation 35 as Windies rallied from poor start, losing their first two wickets – debutantes Amanda Samaroo (0) and Britney Cooper (0) — without a run on the board.
They slipped into further trouble at 59 for five in the 34th over before Taylor led an impressive revival.
Taylor shared in a 54-run eighth-wicket stand with captain Merissa Aguilleira (25) and also added 44 for the ninth wicket with rookie Tremayne Smartt (13).
The Western Province captain Olivia Anderson top-scored with 40 in the home team’s failed run chase.
Bowling for the West Indies, new-ball bowlers Shanel Daley (2-20) and Smartt (2-36) shared four wickets and Deandra Dottin also picked up two wickets, with two for 13 off five overs. Taylor (1-7), Cordel Jack (1-9) and King (1-13) were the other wicket-takers as the Caribbean girls secured a confidence booster ahead of Friday’s first One Day International (ODI) against South Africa at Boland Park.
The West Indies women will play three ODIs and three Twenty20 matches on the tour as part of preparation for the 2010 Women’s World T20 tournament in St Kitts next year.
