SPORTS

West Indies women stun Australia to win World T20 title

April 03, 2016

IMAGE: West Indies women celebrate winning the ICC World Twenty20 final against Australia, in Kolkata on Sunday. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor both struck half-centuries as West Indies beat three-times defending champions Australia by eight wickets to win the women's World Twenty20 title at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Sunday.

Matthews (66) and captain Taylor (59) added 120 for their opening stand as West Indies chased down a 148-run target with three balls to spare for their first win against the Southern Stars in nine attempts in World Twenty20.

What made the celebrations more special was the men's team, led by captain Darren Sammy, bowling coach Curtley Ambrose and all-rounder Andre Russell joined everyone in congratulating the girls.

The girls, as promised to Dwayne Bravo, danced to the beats of the all-rounder's latest rap compilation 'Champion'.

IMAGE: West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor (right) speaks to Hayley Matthews during the ICC World T20 final match against Australia, in Kolkata on Sunday. Photograph: PTI

After Hayley holed out at the midwicket in the 16th over, the West Indies needed 29 from 26 balls and the equation went down to 14 from the last 2 overs but the experienced Deandra Dottin made sure the team got home comfortably.

Dottin, who took two wickets for 33, remained unbeaten on 18 to see West Indies through and spark wild celebrations among her team mates.

Australia's Elyse Villani and captain Meg Lanning had both hit 52 and added 77 for the second wicket to take their side to 148 for five after they won the toss and opted to bat.

Villani set up the tempo with her 37-ball innings and shared a 77-run partnership off 60 balls with Lanning, who continued her good run with second successive fifty.

Scorecard:

Australia Women innings:
A Healy c & b Matthews 4
E Villani c Taylor b Dottin 52
M Lanning lbw b Mohammed 52
E Perry b Dottin 28
A Blackwell not out 3
E Osborne run out (King/Dottin) 0
J Jonassen not out 0

Extras (B 4, LB 2, W 3) 9

Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 148

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-92, 3-134, 4-147, 5-147.

Bowling: S Connell 2-0-15-0, H Matthews 2-0-13-1, S Taylor 3-0-26-0, D Dottin 4-0-33-2, A Fletcher 1-0-9-0, A Mohammed 4-0-19-1, S Quintyne 4-0-27-0.  

West Indies Women:
H Matthews c Blackwell b Beams  66
S Taylor  c Jonassen  b Farrell  59
D Dottin not out  18
B Cooper not out 3

Extras (LB-2, WD-1)  3

Total (For 2 wickets in 19.3 overs)  149
 
Fall of wickets: 1-120, 2-144.
 
Bowling:  J Jonassen 4-0-26-0, E Perry 3.3-0-27-0, M Schutt 3-0-26-0, R Farrell 4-0-35-1, K Beams 4-0-27-1, E Osborne 1-0-6-0.

Source: REUTERS
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