Leading from the front: Stafanie Taylor delivers series for West Indies Women

Skipper makes unbeaten 98, claims 3-28 in 109-run win over Pakistan Women

West Indies Women skipper Stafanie Taylor led from the front with both bat and ball, following up her 98 in the first innings with three wickets in the second, as her side produced a statement 109-run win in the series decider against the Pakistan Women cricket team.

Sana Mir’s decision to put the hosts in to bat after winning the toss backfired as openers Kycia Knight and 17-year-old Hayley Matthews gave West Indies an explosive start. The hosts had raced to 42-0 in just four overs before Kycia was dismissed soon after with the score at 45-1.

Two wickets off successive balls, on the final ball of the 10th over and the first ball of the 11th, put the hosts under pressure but Stafanie held the innings together superbly with Merissa Aguilleira in a 130-run stand. Kyshona Knight then provided the acceleration late on to take the Caribbean side to 281-5 in 50 overs.

West Indies Women level series 1-1

Pakistan Women, always up against it, kept losing wickets at regular intervals which meant they never really threatened in the chase.

Javeria Khan scored a defiant unbeaten 73 but found precious little support from her teammates, and ended up stranded at one end despite coming at one down. No other player even managed to make 20 for the visitors.

Stafanie was the pick of the bowlers as well, ending with figures of 3-26 as she ran through the Pakistan middle order.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2015.

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