West Indies women fail at final hurdle

The West Indies failed in their quest to be crowned for the first time as champion of the ICC Women’s World Cup, when they went under to Australia by 114 runs in last Sunday’s final at Brabourne Stadium.{{more}}

The Caribbean region’s hopefuls, chasing an imposing 260 for victory, never made a fight of it and were dismissed for 145 off 43.1 overs.

Captain Merissa Aguilleirra, who promoted herself up the order from number six to number four, top scored with 23; Deandra Dottin hit 22 and Kyshona Knight 21 not out, as the West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals.

Ellyse Perry grabbed three for 19; Lisa Sthalekar – 2 for 20; Erin Osborne – 2 for 26 and Megan Schutt – 2 for 38, ensured that the ladies from Down Under, gained their sixth lien on the title.

Earlier in the piece, Jess Cameron stroked 75; Rachael Haynes compiled 52; Jodie Fields scored 36 not out, Meg Lanning 31 and Ellyse Perry 25, as the Australia piled up 259 for 7 from their allotted 50 overs, opting to bat first.

Seventeen-year-old Shaquana Quintyne was the leading bowler for the West Indies with 3 for 31, as the others failed to stop the Australians’ positive intent and the West Indies did not help their cause with some sloppy fielding.

It was, for the West Indies, an up-and-down run in the tournament.

In their opening fixture, they lost to host India by 105 runs, but rebounded to lace Sri Lanka by a commanding to 209-run margin.

West Indies then lost to England by six wickets in the group stage, to reach the super sixes, only on the fact that Sri Lanka had beaten India.

In the Super Sixes, though, the West Indies played unbeaten, as they beat New Zealand by 48 runs and in a rehearsal of the final, defeated Australia by eight runs last Wednesday.

It was, however, the West Indies best placing in the tournament.

West Indies finished in fifth place in the 2009 ICC Women’s World Cup, and had to play in the qualifiers to gain entry to the 2013 edition.

They gained the qualification by beating Pakistan by 130 runs in the final at Mirpur in 2011.(RT)