Windies Women lose WC opener to Aussies

TAUNTON, England (CMC): OUT-OF-SORTS WEST Indies Women proved no match for World champions Australia Women and crashed to a heavy eight-wicket defeat as they opened their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on a disappointing note here yesterday.

They opted to bat first but were dismissed for 204 in the 48th over, with teenage opener Hayley Matthews top-scoring with 46, captain Stafanie Taylor getting 45 and Chedean Nation, 39.

All-rounder Deandra Dottin chipped in with a brisk 29, but veteran seamer Ellyse Perry grabbed three for 47, while legspinner Kristen Beams (2-30) and left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen (2-39) claimed two wickets apiece to cripple the Windies innings.

The Caribbean side were well placed at one stage on 123 for two in the 33rd over but failed to kick on and lost their last eight wickets for 81 runs.

In reply, opener Nicole Bolton struck her third one-day international hundred – a delightful, unbeaten 107 – as the Aussies cantered to their target in the 39th over without raising a sweat.

The left-hander hit 14 boundaries off 116 balls, adding 171 in a first-wicket stand with opening partner Beth Mooney, whose 70 required 85 deliveries and included seven fours and a six.

The 19-year-old Matthews accounted for much of West Indies’ early momentum, putting on 34 for the first wicket with Felicia Walters (7) and 52 for the second wicket with Nation.

NO CHALLENGE FOR AUSSIES

Matthews and Nation steadied the innings, but their partnership hardly rattled the Aussies, as it required 80 deliveries and the Windies were still short of three figures at the half-way stage.

All told, Matthews faced 63 deliveries and counted seven fours and appeared headed for her fifth ODI 50 when she gifted her wicket, bowled loosely driving down the wrong line at Jonassen.

With the tempo needing a boost, Nation whipped Beams to Alex Blackwell at short midwicket in the 33rd over, to set the Windies back.

Australia cruised in reply as Bolton and Mooney removed any doubt about the result with their dominant opening stand off just 181 deliveries.

The Windies struggled badly and their only bright spark came when Matthews took a brilliant running catch in the deep to dismiss captain Meg Lanning in the 35th over for 12.

West Indies take on India on Thursday in their second match of the tournament.