BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – West Indies maintained their stranglehold over England yesterday beating them by four wickets in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series at Warner Park.

Sent in to bat, England raised 112 for eight off their allotted 20 overs and West Indies chased down their target to win with two balls to spare, after the start was delayed by 2-1/2 hours because of rain.

Stafanie Taylor, who yesterday broke into the ICC top five all-rounders rankings, snatched three for 16 with her off-breaks to engineer England’s demise.

When West Indies batted, Cordel Jack stroked an exciting run-a-ball 39 to fire her side to their target and into a 1-0 lead in the series which continues today at the same venue.

The victory put the hosts in a strong position to make a clean sweep of the tour, following their 2-1 series win in the One-Day International segment on Saturday.

West Indies suffered a setback at the start of their run chase when they lost Deandra Dottin for four, caught at the wicket off medium pacer Anya Shrubsole with the score on five in the second over.

Taylor then fell for 15 from 14 balls at 22 in the fifth over but England’s hopes of a comeback were hit when Jack and Pamela Lavine posted a 69-run, third-wicket to put their side back on course for victory.

Jack hammered two fours and two sixes while Lavine scored a measured 26 from 46 balls.

England struck back, grabbing three wickets for six runs in the space of 10 balls, to leave the Windies stunned at 97 for five at the start of the 19th over, as fast bowler Isa Guha (3-21) claimed all three scalps.

But captain Merissa Aguilleira hit 13 from 10 balls to get her side within striking distance before she was run-out in the 19th over with a single run needed.

Earlier, captain and opener Charlotte Edwards top-scored with a run-a-ball 34 to help her side to their eventual score.

However, the rest of the batting floundered and only Holly Colvin with 17 from 19 balls showed any real resistance.