West Indies decimate Scotland to open World Cup account

West Indies opened their account by decimating Scotland within 12 overs in the T20 World Cup in Dubai. Afy Fletcher’s three-wicket haul and Chinelle Henry’s all-round performance (1-10 & 18 off 10) set up the clinical victory by restricting Scotland to a merely 99 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs.

Despite some nervy movements with the bat as West Indies consistently lost wickets, a 42-run partnership off just 20 balls between Henry and Deandra Dottin brushed away any nerves. They also made up for the battering their NRR took after their 10-wicket defeat to South Africa two days ago.

Scotland, having elected to bat started positively as Saskia Horley clinched a four each off Henry and Hayley Matthews in the first two overs. But, she fell to Matthews a few deliveries later, holing out to mid-on trying to beat the infield. Top scorer from the previous game for Scotland, Sarah Bryce, managed to score only two as she had her stumps rattled off Henry who bowled a wicket-maiden.

Alisa Lister was put down twice off successive deliveries. The batter continued to be bogged down by Henry in the following over as Scotland registered only 25 for 2 in the PowerPlay. Lister finally found the boundary in the eighth over against offspinner Ashmini Munisar.

Despite their poor fielding, West Indies never let Scotland break free, keeping tabs on the scoring rate. Lister was dropped once again by Henry at long-on this time. Lister’s run-of-luck ended when she holed out to deep-mid-wicket off Afy Fletcher. The bowler trapped Priyanaz Chatterji off the very next delivery to have Scotland at 62 for 4 in 13 overs.

Skipper Kathryn Bryce and Lorna Jack hit a boundary each before the former top-edged a sweep to mid-on, the third wicket for Fletcher. The Scots continued to tumble as Jack was run-out few balls later further denting their prospective total. Karishma Ramharack picked up two wickets in the last over as Scotland scampered to 99.

In reply, Stafanie Taylor thick-edged one for four before she was bowled next ball. The sub-standard level of fielding continued as Qiana Joseph was dropped on one at mid-off. The batter smashed a six and a four straight down the ground off the next two overs, making the Scots pay. But Matthews had no such luck as her straight-batted punch went straight to mid-on. But an untidy over with eight wides and a boundary meant West Indies were still in the driving seat.

Olivia Bell took a good catch off her own bowling to dismiss Shemaine Campbell and Joseph across two overs to put West Indies back in a spot of bother at 59 for 4. But, Dottin and Henry smashed a four and a six after dismissing Joseph. Dottin sealed the chase with two sixes and a four off Abtaha Maqsood with 8.1 overs to spare.

Brief Scores: Scotland 99/8 in 20 overs (Alisa Lister 26, Kathryn Bryce 25; Afy Fletcher 3-22) lost to West Indies 101/4 in 11.5 overs (Qiana Joseph 31, Deandra Dottin 28*; Olivia Bell 2-18) by 6 wickets