Outstanding Taylor fires Windies to second straight win

Bridgetown (Barbados), May 3 (IANS/CMC) Captain Stafanie Taylor's excellent all-round performance inspired the West Indies women's team to a seven-run win over Sri Lanka in the second game of their five-match T20 series here Wednesday.

The right-hander top-scored with 62 as the hosts rattled up 129 for four off their 20 overs, and then returned to claim three for 23 with her off-spin to limit the tourists to 122 for nine.

West Indies lead the series 2-0 following their win Tuesday, and will now head to Trinidad for the last three matches.

Winning the toss and batting, West Indies flourished courtesy of two key partnerships, both anchored by Taylor who was leading the side for the second straight match in place of regular skipper Merissa Aguilleira.

She put on 50 for the first wicket with Juliana Nero whose 29 came from 32 balls and included five fours.

Taylor, playing with equal authority on either side of the wicket, faced just 49 balls and lashed six fours and lofted six over wide long-on.

When Nero was bowled swinging across the line at left-arm spinner Chandima Gunaratne in the ninth over, West Indies slipped to 73 for three before Taylor put on a further 46 with Shemaine Campbelle who scored a breezy unbeaten 22 from 18 balls.

In Sri Lanka's run chase, Deepika Rasangika and Inoka Galagedara added a run-a-ball 43 for the third wicket after they lost two early wickets.

While Rasangika top-scored with 39 from 42 balls, Galagedara scored 25 from 23 balls.

Taylor was adjudged the player of the match.

Brief scores: West Indies 129 for four off 20 overs (Stafanie Taylor 62, Juliana Nero 29, Shemaine Campbelle 22 not out; Chandima Gunaratne 2-20). Sri Lanka 122 for nine off 20 overs (Deepika Rasangika 39, Inoka Galagedara 25, Chamani Seneviratne 25; Stafanie Taylor 3-23)

--IANS/CMC

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