Another depressing loss for Windies Women

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

A change of scenery meant nothing, and West Indies Women endured another demoralising defeat in their current home series against England Women, losing the second Twenty20 International by 16 runs on Wednesday.

Playing under the lights at the iconic Kensington Oval, the Windies Women’s batting failed to fire not for the first time in the series, and they were restricted to 125 for eight from their 20 overs in pursuit of a target of 142.

A slew of batters in the Caribbean side perished in the teens, and Afy Fletcher, batting at nine, made the top score of 18, as the hosts now trail 0-2 in the five-match series, which continues tomorrow, Sunday, and next Wednesday at the same venue.

The batting of the West Indies Women was undermined by pacer Charlie Dean with 3-22 from her four overs, and Lauren Bell with 2-21 in three overs.

Windies Women all-rounder Aaliyah Alleyne said there were some improvements in the performance of the home team, and they were going to keep pushing for that elusive win.

“We are rebuilding as a team, and we are taking it step by step,” the Barbadian said, “Our bowling stood out, restricting England for 140-plus, and then we crossed 120 when we batted.

“For me personally, I’m looking to score runs for my team at the top of the order and to get that partnership with Hayley going. We still have a few games, and I believe we can get it right and get a win.”

West Indies Women were swept 0-3 in the preceding series of One-day Internationals between the two sides that was played exclusively at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Alleyne made 16 and gave the Windies Women a bright start, sharing 21 inside the first three overs, before she and her captain, fellow Barbadian Hayley Matthews fell in successive overs.

The Caribbean side stumbled to 38 for three at the end of Power Play, and they were 52 for five at the halfway stage of the innings before Shemaine Campbelle and Chinelle Henry stemmed the fall of wickets with a stand of 28 for the sixth wicket.

Henry became the first scalp for Bell when she fell for 13 in the 14th over, and Campbelle was trapped lbw to veteran pacer Katherine Brunt for 15 in the next over, and West Indies Women needed 60 from the final 33 balls.

Fletcher struck two fours in her 13-ball knock, and she added 37 for the eighth wicket with Shabika Gajnabi, not out on 17, but the Windies Women lacked the firepower in the closing stages to cross the finish line.

Earlier, Matthews bagged a flattering 3-15 from her four overs, but England Women defied her and reached 141 for six from their 20 overs, led by a run-a-ball 43 from Sophie Dunkley.

West Indies Women had to wait until the sixth over for the breakthrough when Fletcher, bowling her leg-spin, bowled Danni Waytt 20, but England were 39 for one at the end of the Power Play.