Stafanie Taylor dominated West Indies’ chase of 151, slamming 90 off 51 balls to take them to 154 for 4 in 19.1 overs and a six-wicket win in the first T20 international against India Women in Mulapadu. Taylor slapped 12 fours and three sixes and scored over 58 percent of West Indies’ runs. That, after India Women put up 150 for 4, with Harmanpreet Kaur justifying her decision to make first use of the surface with an unbeaten 68, and Veda Krishnamurthy scoring an even 50.

Taylor began by playing second fiddle to Hayley Matthews in a brisk opening stand of 31 in four overs. After Matthews’ dismissal for 18, Taylor took charge of proceedings, dominating partnerships of 40 for the second wicket with Britney Cooper (16) and wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira, with whom she added 70 for the third wicket. When Aguilleira fell, three balls after Taylor, she had scored just 15. It was Shikha Pandey, the right-arm medium pacer, who dismissed both batsmen, but by then, West Indies were left with just nine to get off 13 balls, and Deandra Dottin and Kycia Knight saw them home with five balls remaining. Pandey finished with 3 for 31 in four overs, while Preeti Bose, the offspinner, took the other wicket, having Cooper stumped.

West Indies could have been chasing much lesser after having reduced India to 28 for 2 in the sixth over with their new-ball duo of Shakera Selman and Dottin sending back both the openers. Krishnamurthy and Kaur repaired the damage with a third-wicket partnership of 88 off 69 balls. Krishnamurthy fell for 50 off 46 balls, but Kaur stayed till the end to lift the total. Kaur played a more brisk 68 off 50 balls with the help of six fours and three sixes.

Selman and Dottin were both economical and took three wickets between them. Matthews, though wicketless, kept India quiet, giving away just 14 runs in four overs.

The second match takes place on Sunday, before the series concludes on Tuesday. Both matches take place at the same venue.

(Taken from ESPN Sports Media Ltd.)