OLD TRAFFORD, England (CMC):

West Indies Women lost to England by 28 runs yesterday in their second of a five-match series as part of their preparations for the world Twenty20 in Sri Lanka later this month.

Chasing 151 for victory at Old Trafford, the Caribbean side never mounted a serious threat and were restricted to 122 for six off their allotted overs.

They lost their opening game on Saturday at Chester-le-Street by eight wickets. Captain Merissa Aguilleira again top-scored with 37, while Tremayne Smartt got 25 and Britney Cooper 20.

Seamer Arran Brindle (2-12) and off-spinners Laura Marsh (2-17) and Danielle Wyatt (2-25) all picked up two wickets apiece.

Earlier, Sarah Taylor top-scored with a breezy 37-ball 53, while Brindle stroked a near run-a-ball 42 to help the hosts up to 150 for three off their 20 overs. Left-arm seamer Shanel Daley finished with two for 27.

Although Daley did well to remove England's openers, a third-wicket stand between Taylor and Brindle put England back in control of the game at Old Trafford. Taylor and Brindle added 78 in 10 overs for the third wicket and laid the foundation for an unreachable target.

After Taylor's departure, West Indies did well to deny England any boundaries in the final four overs of the innings. However, a total of 150 was always going to be a tough task for a side held to 71 for eight in the previous match.

The third game of the five-match series is in Northampton on Thursday.