Windies women’s batting flop

CRICKET:

CHENNAI, India (CMC):

West Indies Women will begin their Twenty20 World Cup campaign later this week with question marks over their batting, after another brittle performance left them with a 43-run defeat to Australia Women in their official warm-up game here yesterday.

Chasing 140 for victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the Caribbean collapsed to 96 all out off 19 overs without a single player passing 20.

The total was their third low score in four T20 contests in recent weeks, following on from their 2-1 defeat in their three-match series against South Africa Women.

Stacy-Ann King top-scored with 19 not out to lead five players in double figures, but the next best was captain Stafanie Taylor with 14.

West Indies Women lost teenage opener Hayley Matthews for four to the third ball of the innings to be four for one, before crawling to 38 for two in the 10th over. However, Taylor's dismissal triggered the final side as the Windies Women lost their last eight wickets for 58 runs.

Leg-spinner Kristen Beams picked up three for nine, while seamer Rene Farrell finished with three for 18.

Earlier, Australia Women eased to 139 for three off their 20 overs after they were sent in. Opener Elyse Villani stroked 51 from 42 deliveries, while captain Meg Lanning hit an unbeaten 49 from 39 deliveries.

The right-handed Villani struck eight fours as she helped add 70 for the first wicket with wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy, who made 18 off 24 balls before she was caught and bowled by off-spinner Taylor in the 11th over.

Villani fell soon afterwards in the 14th over but Lanning, who counted two fours and three sixes in her knock, combined with Alex Blackwell (14) to put on 47 and ensure Australia Women finished strongly.

West Indies bowl off their group campaign tomorrow against Pakistan at the same venue here. They are in Group B also alongside India Women, Bangladesh Women and England Women.