English women's team takes 1-0 lead against Windies

Port of Spain, Nov 2 The English women’s team defeated West Indies by seven wickets to take a 1-0 lead in their three-match One-Day International (ODI) series after their opening encounter Tuesday was abandoned because of rain.

A half-century from Sarah Taylor led an easy run chase after Katie Cross and Natalie Sciver combined to remove the bulk of the West Indies batting at the Queen’s Park Oval here Friday.

Taylor was unbeaten on 55 as England cruised to 128/3 in 33.3 overs, easily surpassing the West Indies score of 126 all out in 38.1 overs. Lauren Winfield contributed 31 and Lydia Greenway was undefeated on 20. Cross was named player of the match for top figures of 4/51, to lead the destruction of the Caribbean side.

Cross, Sciver and Holly Colvin accounted for nine wickets despite a promising partnership in the middle of the innings as well as a late cameo from Shaquana Quintyne. Sciver picked up 3/19 runs while Colvin bagged 2/7.

West Indies, who elected to bat, were off to a poor start after losing their first wicket in the first over when Kycia Knight was caught attempting a pull shot.

The home side lost a few more early wickets including June Ogle, who edged to second slip for Sarah Taylor to take a regulation catch and Stafanie Taylor, who was caught behind.

The West Indies plunged to 53/4. But a rescue mission to repair the damage was underway between Shemaine Campbell and Deandra Dottin. The two put together a partnership that yielded 39 runs and which ended when Dottin became another victim of Sciver, brilliantly caught behind by Taylor.

Dottin scored 19, same total as Campbell, but the highlight of the West Indies batting was a bold effort by 17-year-old Quintyne, who revived the innings. Quintyne played well for a top score of 42 before she was caught and bowled by Colvin.

West Indies will try to level the series Sunday when the two teams meet in the third and deciding game.