Eighth-wicket stand gives Windies women series win

Port of Spain (Trinidad), May 7 (IANS/CMC) A valiant, unbroken 24-run, eighth wicket partnership between Shemaine Campbelle and Tremayne Smartt fired the West Indies women's cricket team to a series-winning three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third Twenty20 International here.

Chasing 78 for victory after the game was reduced to 16 overs per side because of rain, West Indies found themselves tottering on the brink of defeat at 56 for seven in the 13th over Sunday.

However, Campbelle stroked a superb unbeaten 27 from 23 balls and Smartt got 12 from eight balls, as West Indies got home in the last over with five balls to spare.

The victory was the third straight for the hosts after they won the doubleheader at Kensington Oval in Barbados last week.

Winning the toss and batting, Sri Lanka got a top score of 22 not out from Deepika Rasangika as they reached 77 for eight.

They were pegged back by fast bowler Subrina Munroe (2-12), off-spinner Stafanie Taylor (2-16) and left-arm seamer Shanel Daley (2-17) all of whom took two wickets apiece.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka: 77 for eight off 16 overs (Deepika Rasangika 22 not out; Subrina Munroe 2-12, Stafanie Taylor 2-16, Shanel Daley 2-17)

West Indies: 80 for seven off 15.1 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 27 not out; Sripali Weerakkody 3-23, Chamani Seneviratne 2-8)

--IANS/CMC

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