Dottin makes winning return

BRISBANE, Australia (CMC): AN ASTONISHING second successive duck for Stafanie Taylor was overshadowed only by her West Indies teammate Deandra Dottin’s dramatic return from injury, as their franchises suffered contrasting fortunes in the Women’s Big Bash here yesterday.

Sidelined for nearly three weeks after undergoing surgery to repair multiple fractures of her cheekbone following an on-field collision with teammate Laura Harris, Dottin was back in action at the Gabba to help Heat trounce bottom-of-the-table Adelaide Strikers by nine wickets.

The effervescent Barbadian allrounder sent down three overs which cost 22 runs and yielded no wickets as Strikers, sent in, rallied to 139 for five off their 20 overs.

They were floundering at 63 for five in the 13th over before Tammy Beaumont struck an unbeaten 50 off 42 balls to revive the innings in an unbroken 76-run, sixth wicket stand with AmandaWade Wellington who slammed 46 off 25 deliveries.

STRONG OPENING

In reply, Dottin’s services were not required as opener Beth Mooney stroked an unbeaten 75 from 47 balls in a 101-run opening stand with captain Kirby Short (42), which erased any doubt about the result.

At Lilac Hill Park in Perth, Taylor’s woes matched those of Thunder in a damaging four-run loss to Perth Scorchers, a result which eliminated the reigning champions from playoff contention.

The West Indies captain faced just one delivery before she was run out in the second over without scoring as Thunder, chasing 150 for victory were held to 145 for six.

Indian star Harmanpreet Kaur was outstanding in an unbeaten 64 off 37 balls which included a four and six sixes but the innings was in vain as Thunder failed to muster the 14 runs required from the last over.