Stafanie Taylor (3-29, 105* in 110 balls) single-handedly helped West Indies Women beat Pakistan Women in the first ODI at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua. West Indies have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series with the win.
Chasing 206, Taylor came to bat at No. 4 and remained until the end to take West Indies home with 13 balls to spare. She notched up her fifth ODI hundred, laced with 11 fours and two sixes, in this innings.
Earlier, Muneeba Ali and Ayesha Zafar got Pakistan off to a steady start after they were invited to bat. They forged a 70-run opening stand before Shamilia Connell ran Ali (36 in 51) out. Anisa Mohammed (2-31) then trapped Javeria Khan (5) leg before sending Pakistan on the back foot. Taylor dismissed Zafar (46 in 70) just after that. They were 99/3 at this point, in 24.3 overs.
Following Zafar’s departure, wickets kept falling in regular intervals from one end. However, Nida Dar (55 in 71) was unmoved and brought up her sixth ODI fifty to take Pakistan to a respective 205/9.
In reply, West Indies lost Kyshona Knight (8) lost early, to Dar (1-34). Hayley Matthews (16) and Kycia Knight (19) did not last either, and they slumped to 75/3 after 21.5 overs.
Taylor then took charge and added 46 runs with Deandra Dottin for the fourth wicket. The latter had contributed with just nine in that partnership before Sadia Iqbal (2-47) caught and bowled her. Taylor shared another 46-run stand with Chedean Nation (23) to take West Indies to 167/5.
Britney Cooper was no-nonsense during her stay with Taylor. She hit three fours in her unbeaten 21-ball 17. In the 48th over, Taylor ensured West Indies victory in style by hitting Diana Baig (1-34) for four.
Brief Scores:
Pakistan Women 205/9 in 50 overs (Nida Dar 55; Stafanie Taylor 3-29) lost to West Indies Women 209/5 in 47.5 overs (Stafanie Taylor 105*; Sadia Iqbal 2-47) by 5 wickets with 13 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Stafanie Taylor.