World T20: Windies women beat England to make winning start

Sylhet (Bangladesh), March 24 (IANS/CMC) The West Indies women’s team made a winning start to their World Twenty20 campaign when they beat England by nine runs in their Group B encounter here on Monday.

Defending 133 for seven at the Sylhet Stadium, the West Indies restricted England to 124 for nine, with medium pacer Deandra Dottin snatching four for 12 from four outstanding overs.

England seemed to be en route to victory at 80 for two in the 12th over until Dottin intervened. She knocked over captain Charlotte Edwards for 44 off 37 balls, in a devastating spell that saw England lose five wickets for 17 runs.

Requiring 18 from the last over, England got a four off the first ball but then lost two wickets, as any hopes of victory disappeared.

Earlier, Stafanie Taylor top scored with 56 from 45 balls and Kycia Knight, 43 from 42 deliveries, as they got the Windies women up and running with an opening stand of 87.

Seamer Natalie Sciver was England’s best bowler with three for 18.