Career best figures for Stafanie in West Indies win

Western Storm’s Stafanie Taylor claimed career-best figures as the West Indies beat South Africa to go top of Group A in the ICC Women’s World T20.

The all-rounder claimed four for 12 as the defending champions came out on top by 31 runs at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.

The Windies maintained their spotless record against South Africa in ICC Women’s World T20s, applying sustained pressure with the ball and in the field to seal the win. Their winning margin was bloated by a late collapse that saw South Africa lose their last five wickets for just one run.

South Africa were looking steady at 41 for one after 10 overs, chasing the Windies total of 107, when two outstanding pieces of fielding –including one direct hit from point by Deandra Dotttin- brought the holders back into the game. Taylor then brought herself on and bowled her four overs on the trot, taking a wicket in each of them. From 48 for one, South Africa slipped to 64 for five and were eventually bowled out for 76.

Taylor’s performance saw her claim the Player of the Match award, a medal that seemed headed into Shabnim Ismail’s pocket for a brilliant opening spell. Ismail (three for twelve) removed the Windies’ most destructive batters in her first twelve balls, claiming her second consecutive three-wicket haul. A 45-run partnership between Kycia Knight (32) and Natasha McLean (28) rescued the Windies, giving them something to defend.

After the match Stafanie said: “I think Deandra’s position at point, backward point is pretty much fixed. When she’s not bowling, that’s where she’s supposed to go, because she’s magnificent. She’s fantastic. She gets around pretty quickly. Batters fear her when she has the ball in her hand or when she’s going towards the ball. No one wants to take a run. So, when Dane got run out, I think she was caught off-guard, but it turned the match in our favour.”