Windies women hammer South Africa; advance to semi-finals

Oct 01, 2012 Sports

---

New Zealand also through

Galle, Sri Lanka – West Indies Women totally outplayed South Africa Women yesterday to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World T20 tournament.

In one of the most dominant performances of the competition, West Indies were exceptional with the ball as South Africa could only make 70-8 off their 20 overs at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The Windies then raced to the target off just 9.4 overs without losing a wicket for a comprehensive 10-wicket win – their biggest margin of victory in a T20 International.
The West Indies end the first round top of Group B with four points and will play in the semi-final match later this week at the R Premadasa Stadium. Their opponents will be confirmed when Group A is completed today.
Stafanie Taylor starred with both bat and ball and won the Player of the Match award. She was one of five spin bowlers used by the Windies and ended with a career-best 3-10 off four overs. She was well backed up by 16-year-old leg-spinner Shaquana Quintyne, who also had career-best figures of 2-14 off her four overs.
When West Indies batted Taylor stroked 33 not out off 30 balls with six boundaries. In the process, she became the first West Indian woman to make 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals. She was partnered by Juliana Nero, who returned to the top of the order and made 30 not out off 28 balls with four boundaries.
Captain Merissa Aguilleira said that following their shock defeat against Sri Lanka on Friday, her advice to the team was to play with freedom and showcase their skills.
“We knew we had the quality and ability,” Aguilleira said after the match. “In the match against Sri Lanka we didn’t play up to the usual standard that we set for ourselves so we just spoke about improving and playing without any worry, because qualification to the semi-finals was well within our reach.”
Noting that it was a deliberate ploy to go after the South African batters with spin, she said: “We know that they fancy pace on the ball and like the ball coming onto the bat. We decided to change the normal game-plan and force them to go for shots by using our slow bowlers.
“Last night we analysed each of their players. We had specific plans in place. We played a couple of warm-ups so we had an idea of what to expect against them.”
Aguilleira also heaped praise on Taylor, the vice captain, and Sherwin Campbell, the coach, for the planning and the turnaround after the defeat against the home team.
“Stafanie showed today why she is among the best in the world at the moment and rated among the best women who have played international cricket. She led the way with the ball and came back to finish the job with the bat. She’s a class act and always gives her all for the team,” Aguilleira said.
“Sherwin is a very good coach. He is someone who has had vast experience of playing and coaching. He is extremely persistent, but it is up to us at the end of the day to implement the plans. He has been really good for us.”
The West Indies travelled to Colombo on Sunday evening where they will prepare for the semi-finals.
Scores: West Indies women 71 for 0 (Taylor 33*, Nero 30*) beat South Africa women 70 for 8 (Niekerk 29*, Taylor 3-10) by 10 wickets.
Meanwhile, New Zealand sealed their spot in the semi-finals on a day of one-sided contests in the women’s World Twenty20. They beat hosts Sri Lanka by eight wickets, following a collective bowling effort that set up an easy chase. Sri Lanka chose to bat but were jolted early in their innings, losing opener Yasoda Mendis in the third over. The only signs of promise were the second-wicket stand of 28 between Inoka Galagedara and Chamari Atapattu and of 29 between captain Shashikala Siriwardene and Dilani Surangika for the fourth wicket.
But the batsmen only managed a highest score of 14 between them, and persistent strikes from the New Zealand bowlers ensured Sri Lanka were bowled out for 89. Sian Ruck, Erin Bermingham and Morna Nielson picked up two wickets each.
New Zealand’s win wasn’t quite as comprehensive as what West Indies managed against South Africa, but it was still fairly clinical. Captain Suzie Bates fell early in the chase but Amy Satterthwaite made an unbeaten 32, supported by Sophie Devine’s 23. New Zealand lost just two wickets and completed the win in the 16th over.
New Zealand, West Indies, Australia and England are the four semi-finalists, but the line-ups will be decided on October 1 – the last day of the league games.
Scores: New Zealand women 90 for 2 (Satterthwaite 32*, Devine 23) beat Sri Lanka women 89 (Galagedara 14, Nielsen 2-10, Ruck 2-23) by eight wickets.

---

---