…level series 2-2 with 42-run victory

Skipper Stafanie Taylor produced a magnificent all-round performance and led the West Indies Women team to a heart-warming and fighting 42-run victory over their English counterparts,in the Fourth ODI contested at Sabina Park, Jamaica,yesterday.
Taylor led by example and batted with great patience and skilful execution as she led West Indies to the highest score of the series- 223 for 6 in 50 overs.
And despite a troubled left leg when she suffered cramps while batting, Taylor rose to the challenge and registered probably the greatest all-round performance ever seen in Women’s ODIs. She topscored with 84, then grabbed three wickets (3 for 22) and took two catches off her own bowling.
Additionally, Taylor featured in two of the five run outs when England were restricted to 181 all out in 44.2 overs and allowed the West Indian team to celebrate an impressive victory over their much-highly rated rivals.
Taylor deservedly was voted “Player of the Match” for her sterling contributions with both bat and ball.
With the victory, West Indies levelled the series 2-2,and collected two important points which pushed them back into second spot in the ICC Championship title race and closer to one of the three other qualifying berths for the ICC’s World Cup next year in England.
West Indies moved to 22 points, and is second to Australia, reigning 50-Overs World champions; who have already clinched one of the qualifying spots with 30 points. England is now in third with 21 while New Zealand is fourth on 20.
Taylor topscored for West Indies with a match-winning 84,which was embellished with two sixes and six fours off 128 deliveries. Her batting brilliance also inspired her partners,especially opener Shaquana Quintyne, who contributed 41 (1×6 and 2x4s off 72 balls); and Merissa Aguilleira, who slammed a quickfire 32 that was studded with four fours off 33 balls.
Together,they carried the attack to the English bowlers and posted decent partnerships that allowed the homesters to grab the initiative. Taylor shared a 69-run second wicket partnership with Quintyne and then added 36 for the third with Deandra Dottin who made 18 (2x4s off 18 balls).
Quintyne departed at 81 for 2 in 23.2 overs while Dottin exited at 117 for three in 30.1 overs.
The 25-year-old talented Taylor chalked up her 25th Career ODI fifty and with Aguilleira,carried West Indies to 162 for 4 in 39.5 overs.
The WI captain added a further 31-run for the fifth wicket with Britney Cooper who made nine.She missed getting her sixth ODI career century when she offered a catch to Heather Knight.However,West Indies were well-placed at 209 for six in 47.6 overs.
Shemaine Campbelle (9 not out) and StacyAnn King (9 not out) pushed the total to 223 to complete the 50-overs innings.
In reply, openers Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont laid the platform for England to have a great chance to win the match and seal the five-match series win with one match still to be played on Wednesday at the same venue. Together,they attacked all the West India bowlers and posted an enterprising 95-run first wicket partnership in 19.1 overs.
And it took the effort of Taylor to check the English momentum when she accepted a stinging return catch offered by the aggressive Beaumont who made 57. Winfield was joined by her captain Heather Knight and they posted 38 for the third wicket when Winfield was the first of five run-outs in the England’s innings which went into decline after being ahead of the required run rate.
Winfield was run out by Afy Fletcher for 51 while Knight contributed 36,as the remaining batters wilted under pressure and attempted suicidal singles only to find the West Indian fielders as deadly accurate as they can be and effected four more run outs.
England lost all ten wickets for an addition of 84 runs and their innings closed at 181 all out in 44.2 overs, with 34 deliveries to spare.
It was an exciting victory for the West Indians who fought bravely and never doubted themselves that they can beat the English women again as they did in the second ODI at Trelawny Stadium, Florence Hall last week.
The fifth and final match on Wednesday will be the decider. West Indies should be the more buoyant outfit following their impressive showing yesterday.