Cricket

West Indies women beat Ireland in 1st ODI

Sentinel Digital Desk

GROS ISLET: The West Indies Women took a 1-0 lead in the three-match Women’s One-Day International series, defeating Ireland by 58 runs at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground here.

Winning the toss and batting first, West Indies posted 297/6 in 50 overs as captain Hayley Matthews led the West Indies scoring, striking her fourth ODI century 109 (off 107 balls, 10x4,2x6).

Stafanie Taylor notched her 40th half-century in scoring 55 (68 balls, 4x4) and Chinelle Henry brought up her maiden ODI fifty in 38 deliveries (7x4) as the West Indies posted a challenging total. Stafanie Taylor is now third on the list of women players with the most ODI half-centuries behind Mithali Raj (71) of India and England’s Charlotte Edwards (55). Cara Murray was the pick of the Irish bowlers, with figures of 10-0-60-3 while Ava Canning (1-33), Arlene Kelly (1-46) and Sophie MacMahon (1-30) were the other wicket-takers.

Hayley Matthews then returned with the ball to scalp 3-53 in 10 overs while Afy Fletcher claimed 2-49 and Qiana Joseph 2-53 assisted as the West Indies spun the Irish batter into a web.

Ireland reached 238/9 in their fifty overs, Gaby Lewis 83 (100) and skipper Laura Delany 40 (53) were their top run-getters. Orla Prendergast contributed 37 runs but in the end, Ireland fell short by a big margin. IANS

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