Daley's all-round effort lifts Windies to series win

Lucas Street (Barbados), April 30 (IANS/CMC) Shanel Daley's spirited all-round performance fired the West Indies women's cricket team to a 45-run victory over Sri Lanka, under the Duckworth/Lewis (D/L) method, in a rain-disrupted third and final One-Day International here, securing for the hosts a 2-1 series win.

The 23-year-old left-hander stroked a responsible 61 as the West Indies, sent in to bat at the Windward Cricket Club, finished on 168 for seven after rain disrupted the innings Sunday and forced a reduction in overs to 40.

Daley then returned to make key strikes and finish with three for 25 from eight overs of left-arm seam, to send Sri Lanka tumbling to 131 all out in search of a revised 177 for victory, with eight balls left in the innings.

The West Indies clinched the series 2-1 after winning the opening game at Kensington Oval by 88 runs last Wednesday and losing the first of the doubleheader at Windward by a wicket Friday.

The West Indies lost Juliana Nero (4) in the fourth over but then flourished through a 74-run second-wicket stand between opener Stafanie Taylor and Daley.

Taylor stroked two fours in 44 off 61 balls while Daley played a measured innings, requiring 114 balls for her half-century knock.

The fifty was the Jamaican's second of the series, following her 63 in the first match at the Oval.

Once Taylor departed in the 23rd over, Daley put on a further 28 for the third wicket with Shemaine Campbelle (11) before the innings fell away.

Campbelle was run out in the 31st over, Deandra Dottin continued her lean spell when she fell for three nine balls later and Daley was bowled in the 35th over swinging at off-spinner Shashikala Siriwardena, who finished with four for 40.

In reply, Sri Lanka crashed to 11 for three in the fifth over after fast bowler Subrina Munroe (3-15) snatched two early wickets in a lethal opening burst.

She knocked over opener Yashodha Mendis and Deepika Rasangika, both without scoring, in her first two overs while Inoka Galagedara was run out for eight.

Daley then weighed in with the scalps of captain Dilani Manodara (14) and Sandamali Dolawatta (14) as Sri Lanka slumped further to 58 for five at the end of the 23rd over.

Shashikala Siriwardena (34) and Sripali Weerakkody (29) resisted with fighting knocks but off-spinner Taylor picked up two for 10 late on to douse Sri Lanka's hopes.

--IANS/CMC

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