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BREADY – Stafanie Taylor cracked a second successive century and West Indies’ spinners dismantled Ireland Women’s batting lineup to see them complete a clean sweep of their One Day International series via a comfortable 64-run victory in Ireland on Wednesday.
Taylor, who scored an unbeaten, even 100 in the previous match on Sunday, cracked 105 to rebuild the visitors’ innings and get them up to a competitive 257 in 50 overs at Bready Cricket Club after they were sent in to bat.
Spinners Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack and Hayley Matthews then shared eight wickets between them, as they skittled out the home side for 193 in 43.1 overs after they had made a promising start.
The result gave the Windies Women a commanding 3-0 series win, their third straight bilateral ODI series win against Ireland.
Despite having already wrapped up the series with Sunday’s victory, the West Indies made just one change to that side, with Ashmini Munisar replacing Shawnisha Hector.
Ireland’s decision to send the visitors in to bat paid immediate dividends when Hayley Matthews, who scored two centuries in the previous matches, was dismissed by Orla Prendergast with only seven runs on the board.
Taylor joined Realeanna Grimmond and added 34 runs before the latter was bowled by Jane Maguire for a patient 14 off 42 balls.
When both Shemaine Campbelle and Jannillea Glasgow were run out for the addition of just seven runs, West Indies Women were in trouble at 48 for four.
Deandra Dottin looked fluid in her knock of 21 that contained four boundaries, until she was stumped off the bowling of Georgina Dempsey to leave Ireland in the ascendancy with the score 82 for five.
But with her side struggling, Taylor formed two major partnerships with Jahzara Claxton and Aaliyah Alleyne that put them back on track.
She first added 73 with Claxton, who made 30, and when Claxton was dismissed by Aimee Maguire, Taylor put on 50 with Alleyne, who dominated the stand by scoring 33 off 30 balls with six boundaries.
When Dempsey eventually returned to bowl Alleyne to make the score 205 for seven after 40 overs, West Indies were still well short of a par score.
However, Taylor, who was named Player-of-the-Match, added 52 crucial runs with the tailenders in the remaining 10 overs.
The 35-year-old veteran brought up her 10th ODI century off 110 balls in the final over of the innings by scampering two runs after driving Dempsey through the offside.
She was eventually run out off the last ball after facing 113 balls and striking 10 fours.
Prendergast (2-37), Jane Maguire (2-44) and Dempsey (2-61), all took two wickets apiece for Ireland.
The home side didn’t get off to the best of starts either, losing Sarah Forbes for just two, but the pair of captain Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter shared a 71-run partnership that carried them to 81 for one in the 18th over and left the game in the balance.
Lewis looked in good nick to reach a half century, but immediately after she was dismissed by Fletcher for an even 50 off 59 balls and three balls later the spinner also grabbed Hunter’s wicket for 30, to leave Ireland 86 for three.
Prendergast made just eight before becoming Matthews’ first wicket and when Rebecca Stokell was run out, the home side was reeling at 129 for five in the 28th over.
Leah Paul, who scored 32 and Louise Little, who made 23, tried to reinvigorate the run chase during a 29-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but once Fletcher had Paul stumped, the innings quickly capitulated.
Both Fletcher and Ramharack finished with figures of 3-33, while Matthews, who took home the Player-of-the-Series award, claimed 2-37.
CMC
Summarised scores
WEST INDIES WOMEN 257 in 50 overs (Stafanie Taylor 105, Aaliyah Alleyne 33, Jahzara Claxton 30, Deandra Dottin 21, Realeanna Grimmond 14; Orla Prendergast 2-37, Jane Maguire 2-44, Georgina Dempsey 2-61).
IRELAND WOMEN 193 in 43.1 overs (Gaby Lewis 50, Leah Paul 32, Amy Hunter 30, Louise Little 23, Rebecca Stokell 14, Aimee Maguire 13; Afy Fletcher 3-33, Karishma Ramharack 3-33, Hayley Matthews 2-37).
Result: West Indies Women won by 64 runs
to win the three-match series 3-0.
Player-of-the-Match: Stafanie Taylor.
Player-of-the-Series: Hayley Matthews.
Umpires: Claire Polosak, Roly Black.
TV Umpire: Gareth Morrison.
Reserve Umpire: Jareth McCready
Match Referee: Phillip Thompson
English (US) ·