Taylor stars again for WI
Published:Sunday | January 16, 2011 | 12:00 AM
VADODARA, India (CMC): West Indies snatched a surprise 2-1 lead in their five-match One-Day International series against India when they beat the World's third-ranked side by three wickets here yesterday.
Prolific, teenaged opener Stafanie Taylor stroked 46 as West Indies, chasing 157 for victory, reached 159 for seven with four balls to spare at the Reliance Stadium.
Earlier, off-spinners Anisa Mohammed (2-20) and Stafanie Taylor (2-21) and left-arm pacer Shanel Daley (2-22), all took two wickets apiece as they once again restricted the hosts to a modest total.
Tail-ender Amita Sharma cracked a cameo 35 to top score for the Indians who had earlier got an ultra patient 33 from opener Poonam Raut.
Good start
The 19-year-old Taylor, who failed in the last match when West Indies lost by 10 runs, took matters into her own hands with a measured innings to ensure the visitors got off to a good start.
She hit seven fours off 72 balls and posted 45 for the first wicket with Juliana Nero whose 22 was a breezy knock off 31 balls, decorated with five fours.
Nero's departure triggered a slide that saw Windies struggle to 74 for three at the end of the 22nd over but Stacey-Ann King (20) and captain Merissa Aguilleira (17) added 24 for the fourth wicket to deny India further immediate success.
Both batsmen fell in the space of 13 balls, paving the way for an important 27-run, sixth wicket stand between Deandra Dottin (12) and Daley (13) which steered the Windies to within sight of victory.