GALLE, Sri Lanka (CMC) – An explosive half-century from Deandra Dottin powered West Indies to an easy seven-wicket win against New Zealand in the ICC Women’s World T20 tournament at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Dottin slammed an unbeaten 58 and shared in a rapid 82-run stand with Stafanie Taylor as the Windies surged to victory after restricting New Zealand to 117 for 9.
The Caribbean women were pegged back by the dual loss of opener Tremayne Smartt and Shanel Daley in the second over.
But balls were hit to all parts of the ground as Dottin’s partnership with Taylor pulled West Indies out of the early stumble.
Dottin, who holds the records for the fastest women’s T20 century and half-century, smashed six fours and two sixes from the 42 deliveries she faced for her unbeaten match-winning innings, while Taylor, who is the leading all-rounder in the world, made 38 off 43 balls with four boundaries as West Indies scored their first victory over New Zealand in either T20s or ODIs.
The West Indies dominated from the start of the match with some good bowling and excellent fielding which contained New Zealand’s scoring.
Off-spinners Anisa Mohammed and Taylor both took two wickets to wreck the New Zealand batting, while teenaged leg-spinner Shemaine Campbelle also chipped in with two wickets.
New Zealand reached 63 for 1 in the 10th with captain Suzie Bates contributing 32 off 34 balls, but the fall of Sophie Devine triggered a collapse as the next eight wickets fell for just 47 runs.
West Indies are now heading the Group B table on a better net run-rate after South Africa also opened their campaign with a win.

SCORECARD
NEW ZEALAND innings
S. Bates run-out 32
A. Satterthwaite c & b Taylor 15
S. Devine c Nero b Smartt 11
F. Mackay lbw b Campbelle 2
S. McGlashan run-out 8
N. Browne c Daley b Mohammed 9
E. Perry c King b Taylor 5
K. Martin c Daley b Campbelle 10
E. Bermingham b Mohammed 5
M. Nielsen not out 4
S. Ruck not out 3
Extras: (lb-3, w-9, nb-1) 13
Total: (for 9 wickets, off 20 overs) 117
Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-63, 3-66, 4-75, 5-85, 6-91, 7-102, 8-105, 9-110.
Bowling: Selman 2-0-18-0, Daley 4-0-17-0, Taylor 4-0-29-2, Mohammed 4-0-17-2, Campbelle 4-0-22-2, Smartt 2-0-11-1.

WEST INDIES WOMEN
S. Taylor lbw b Devine 35
T. Smartt c Browne b Bermingham 0
S. Daley c Ruck b Bermingham 0
D. Dottin not out 58
M. Aguilleira not out 10
Extras: (lb-2, w-12, nb-1) 15
Total: (for 3 wickets, off 18 overs) 118
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-5, 3-87.
Bowling: Ruck 3-0-17-0, Bermingham 4-0-18-2, Browne 2-0-21-0, Nielsen 4-0-26-0, Mack 2-0-16-0, Devine 3-0-18-1.