Heaven help us! Windies praying as Priest powers on

WEST Indies entered the World Cup as a dark horse following their World T20 success last year – four games in they are effectively eliminated with the latest crushing defeat coming at the hands of New Zealand at Taunton.

It was former Scotland international Leigh Kasperek, in her first appearance of the tournament, who did the damage, taking 3-17 with her offspin as the Windies were restricted to 150 all out.

Any thought that it might be the wicket rather than the batting which was responsible for the low total was quickly dispelled as the White Ferns raced through their chase to win by eight wickets – Rachel Priest hammering 90 off just 55 deliveries.

That leaves the West Indies with four losses from as many games, and while they are not mathematically out, the fight seems to have gone out of Stafanie Taylor’s side.

New Zealand, by contrast, responded well to a first defeat to Australia and moved back into the semi-final places thanks to this convincing victory much to Bates’ delight.

She said: “We started outstanding with the ball, we have some really experienced players and they put their hands up and set the game’s tone for us. We didn’t plan the fastpaced chase. Priesty was hitting it out of the park and that’s how she plays so we let her do that.”

It didn’t take New Zealand long to seize control with openers Hayley Matthews and Kycia Knight both gone within the first five overs.

Taylor (20) and Chedean Nation (17) steadied the ship but on her return for a second spell, Kasperek removed the former, followed by Deandra Dottin next ball, sparking yet another West Indies collapse.

Nation became the third player to fall with the score on 53 and Merissa Aguilleira and Kyshona Knight were forced to carry out a rescue job.

They did it well initially, putting on 38, but Aguilleira was then stumped one ball after hammering the first six of the innings, and the West Indies were again in trouble.

Knight eventually fell for 41, swiping wildly across the line and completely missing one from Holly Huddleston to put an end to a promising innings.

Afy Fletcher’s unbeaten 23 at least pushed them to 150, but that was nowhere near enough as Suzie Bates and Priest tucked into some wayward West Indian bowling.

The latter was particularly aggressive, bringing up her halfcentury with a six from just 29 deliveries until she picked out Shanel Daley ten short of her ton.

On this form, New Zealand look genuine contenders to challenge favourites Australia, sadly the same cannot be said of the West Indies who have simply failed to fire at any point in the competition.

Skipper Taylor admitted: “We haven’t really been playing much 50-over cricket. In the past few games, the openers set up a platform but the middle order could not capitalise.

“It’s all about mindset now.We just have to look to play some positive cricket.We just have to play for some pride.”