North Sound – West Indies Women’s off-spinner Karishma Ramharack triggered a late collapse, but New Zealand Women held their nerve to come away with a two-wicket win in the second One-day International on Thursday in Antigua – and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing 170 for victory at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, the New Zealanders appeared to be cantering to their target at 164 for four in the 37th over.
But leg-spinner Afy Fletcher knocked over top-scorer Maddy Green for 48, triggering a slide in which four wickets tumbled for three runs in 17 balls.
Ramharack, 27, ended with three for 22 –bagging the last three wickets – before New Zealand Women managed to stumble home at the start of the 41st over.
Earlier, West Indies Women struggled to 169 for nine off their 50 overs after choosing to bat with their captain and Barbadian all-rounder Hayley Matthews top scoring with a patient 46 from 82 balls and Chinelle Henry adding a breezy 30 from 35 balls.
The Windies Women endured the worst possible start when Rashada Williams, Natasha McLean and Shabika Gajnabi fell cheaply, and they slumped to 29 for three in the 11th over.
Matthews tried to patch up the innings, posting 38 for the fourth wicket with former captain Stafanie Taylor and a further 47 for the sixth wicket with Henry.
But off-spinner Eden Carson took three for 31, including Matthews lbw, and the Caribbean side slipped to 129 for seven at the end of the 39th over before Fletcher got 19 and Shakera Selman made 18, and put on a precious 36 for the eighth wicket.
Summarised scores:
West Indies Women 169 for nine off 50 overs (Hayley Matthews 46, Chinelle Henry 30; Eden Carson 3-31).
New Zealand Women 171 for eight off 40.1 overs (Maddy Green 48, Lauren Down 33, Brooke Halliday 24; Karishma Ramharack 3-22).
