INVERCARGILL – West Indies Women cricketers continued their losing skid on the tour of New Zealand when they collapsed to a 32-run defeat to the hosts, in the opening Twenty20 International of the five-match series here yesterday.
Chasing 121 for victory, West Indies were never really in the hunt and were bundled out for a paltry 88 off 18.1 overs, at Queen’s Park.
Opener Natasha McLean topscored with 22, while Shaquana Quintyne finished unbeaten 20 and debutant Vanessa Watts, 16.
The defeat was the fourth straight on the tour for the Windies women who lost the preceding One-Day series 3-0.
Sent in, New Zealand got a strong opening stand of 53 off 46 balls, as Sophie Devine topscored with 40 off 39 balls and captain Suzie Bates got a 26-ball 32.
Seamer Shakera Selman got the breakthrough when she had Bates caught at the wicket but Devine and Sara McGlashan added a further 32 for the second wicket.
Medium pacer Tremayne Smartt, who finished with three for 17, removed both in the 13th over, triggering a slide which saw six wickets tumble for 26 runs as New Zealand ended on 120 for seven.
In reply, West Indies lost Kycia Knight in the third over for six with the score on 18, and never recovered.
McLean appeared to be making a fist of it when she banged a four and a six in her 21-ball stay at the crease but was one of two wickets for seamer Hayley Jensen (2-11) as the Windies slipped to 52 for six in the 12th over.
Quintyne and Watts defied the Kiwis with a 24-run, seventh-wicket partnership – the best of the innings. Once they fell in successive overs, however, any hopes of a victory were erased as the last four wickets tumbled for 12 runs. The second match is today.
