Henry’s all-around performance not enough for WI

Jamaican all-rounder Chinelle Henry put in a spirited performance with the bat and then backed that up with a good showing with the ball but her efforts could not stop West Indies Women from going down by five runs to New Zealand under the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method in their rain-affected opening One-Day International (ODI) in Antigua.

Batting first, the regional side scored 168 for seven in 35 overs, after the match was reduced due to a wet pitch. When bad light forced the game to be called off, the visitors were 159 for five in 33 overs.

The right-handed Henry, along with Kyshona Knight, came to the rescue for the regional side who was asked to take the first strike and was struggling at one stage at 74 for five in the 21st over.

The pair dug deep and added 83 runs for the sixth wicket, with Henry going on to top-score with 44 from 34 balls with five fours before she was caught off Jess Kerr.

Two balls later, Kerr then accounted for Knight who also went caught. She made 36 from 61 balls with a single boundary, as Kerr finished with two for 29 and Fran Jonas two for 22.

Jamaican opener Natasha McLean, in her first game for the West Indies in two years, made 20 from 23 balls with three fours and a six. McLean, and compatriot Rashada Williams who made 19, added 29 in the opening partnership.

In reply, New Zealand got off to a good start thanks to 54 from veteran opener Suzie Bates and 25 from captain Sophie Devine. Despite three wickets from captain Hayley Matthews, the visitors were well on their way to getting the target before bad light forced the players off the pitch. Amelia Kerr was left not out on 47, as Henry and Afy Fletcher picked up a wicket each.

Henry was glad she was able to come up big with the bat when the team needed her but was disappointed that the effort wasn’t enough to secure a win.

“For us now, it’s all about getting through those middle overs better when the spinners come on. Once we can dominate those middle overs, we will score 230-plus runs for the remainder of the series.

“With the fight shown as a bowling unit, there is no doubt that we can go on to level and eventually win the series,” Henry said.

The second ODI will be played on Thursday.