SYDNEY, Australia,CMC – West Indies offered very little resistance and plunged to a heavy 146-run loss to England in their ICC Women’s World Cup Super Six match at Drummoyne Oval yesterday.
Electing to bat, the undefeated England got a hundred-run partnership from their openers and went on to post 236 for eight off their 50 overs before restricting West Indies to a flimsy 90 all out in 38.2 overs.
The result stretched the Caribbean side’s losing streak here to four games while England sealed a World Cup final spot for the first time in 16 years and extended their winning sequence at this tournament to five matches.
Sarah Taylor struck a top score of 78 off 101 balls with seven boundaries and her opening partner Caroline Atkins stroked 50 in 95 balls with three fours in a 134-run first wicket stand that tormented the West Indies bowlers.
Claire Taylor, the ICC’s No.1 ranked batter in women’s cricket, continued to give the innings momentum with a fine half-century at better than run-a-ball rate while West Indies rallied with a flurry of wickets in the middle-order. The 33-year-old veteran smashed 65 off just 56 balls and hit six fours and two sixes.
There was no other significant scorer in England’s innings but they had already compiled a formidable 225 when Taylor was trapped leg before wicket by pacer Pamela Lavine in the final over.
West Indies used as many as nine bowlers in their attempt to restrict England’s scoring, and the left-arm medium Shanel Daley, playing her second game here, emerged as the chief wicket-taker with three for 31 off nine overs.
Charlene Taitt (1-9), Afy Fletcher (1-31) and Lavine (1-39) were the other wicket takers.
When West Indies replied, they lost prolific teenager Stafanie Taylor for just eight runs and captain Merissa Aguilleira for a 13-ball “duck” to slide to a perilous 22 for four in the 12th over.
Deandra Dottin, batting at No.6, smashed 23 off 30 balls with three fours and one six while sharing in an innings best 44-run stand with Lavine (18) but England’s bowlers were always on top after the Windies’ dreadful start.
Kirbyina Alexander (14) was the only other player with double figures for the West Indies, who have not won since their opening match two-wicket victory against South Africa on March 8.
Off-spinner Laura Marsh took three for 17 off 7.2 overs as the West Indies finished on 90 for nine in the 39th over.
Daley was unable to bat due to illness as the two-time champions marched into the March 22 final.
“It has been our goal since the previous World Cup to make it to the final. I have been in semi-final before so it is great to finally make it to the final,” said winning captain Charlotte Edwards.
“But the job is only half done and I am sure we will be ready and waiting for Sunday. We’re on a successful run of form at the moment and we don’t want to slip up. We want to keep the winning run and momentum going into the final,” she added.
