Windies women crash to defeat

AMSTELVEEN: The West Indies crashed to 50 all out and a 28-run defeat in their opening match of the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) Trophy competition on Monday.

Captain Stephanie Power top-scored with 12 as Ireland sped to an easy win in the match, which was put back three hours because a luggage strike at London’s Heathrow Airport delayed team arrival. Pakistan and the Netherlands were the other winners on day one. Batting first against the West Indies at the ACC Ground, Ireland scored 78 all out in 44 overs, with the West Indies conceding 22 extras, the highest contribution to the Irish total. St Lucian off-spinner Verena Felician was the most successful of the West Indian bowlers, taking two for 13 from nine overs. Debbie-Ann Lewis (1-9), Envis Williams (1-12), Doris Francis (1-16), and Felicia Cummings (1-18) shared four wickets. The West Indies never challenged the target in their reply, and faced only 24 overs for their total of 50. Barbara McDonald took four for 13 off eight overs for Ireland, and Catherine O’Neill four for 15 off six overs, for Ireland.

In other matches, Pakistan scored 181 for six, to defeat Japan (26) by 155 runs, and the Netherlands posted a handsome 226-run victory over Scotland. Paced by Pauline te Beest’s century (138), the Netherlands scored 300 for five off their 50 overs, and then restricted Scotland to 74 all out in 46 overs. The top two teams after the round robin phase will qualify for the Women’s World Cup to be held in South Africa in early 2005. The tournament continued yesterday with West Indies facing the Netherlands, Ireland against Japan, and Pakistan meeting Scotland.