West Indies women beat the Netherlands by 7 wickets with 20 deliveries remaining in the firstTwenty/20 international match at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Utrecht. The home side were missed for 99-6 with top-scorers Caroline Salomons (27) and captain Helmien Rambaldo (28 n.o.) and their colleagues unable to force the pace against an attack spearheaded by off-spinner Anisa Mohammed (4-20). Captain/wicketkeeper Nadine George (31 with 5 fours) and Stacy-Ann King (40 with 5 fours and a six) made the game secure for West Indies in a first-wicket stand of 59 from 8.2 overs. Although Lotte Egging (2-24) took two wickets with the scores level, the tourists could not be denied their success.

Taylor leads West Indies to Twenty/20 triumph

West Indies hammered Ireland by 75 runs in their Twenty/20 international match (their first ever) at the Rush Cricket Club ground, Dublin. Stefanie Taylor (90 from 49 deliveries with 12 fours and 2 sixes) and Stacy-Ann King (52 with 3 fours and 5 sixes) hit the Irish bowling for 184-4, after which Kirbyina Alexander (3-20) and Danielle Small (2-20) restricted the home team to 109-7.

The scheduled second ODI between Ireland and West Indies women in Dublin has been washed out

WEST INDIES WOMEN START EUROPEAN TOUR WITH A WIN

Younger, inexperienced players were impressive
Unbroken fifth-wicket partnership takes tourists to victory

The West Indies women’s team made their first acquaintance with international competition for three years, and with the intricacies of Duckworth/Lewis, in beating Ireland by 5 wickets with 17 balls remaining at Observatory Lane, Rathmines, Dublin. The younger, inexperienced players were particularly impressive. Nicola Coffey (32), alone, withstood the bowling of Danielle Small (3-27), Shakera Selman (2-19) and Stacy-Ann King (2-20) as the home country were dismissed for 123 from 39.1 overs. Unfortunately the bowlers yielded 32 wides in 36 extras. Rain interruption brought about a reduction in the target which the tourists had to chase. After early wickets fell to opening bowlers Isobel Joyce (2-12) and Marianne Herbert (2-20), Deandra Dottin (33 n.o.) and Stacy-Ann King (20 n.o.) came together in the 41 runs unbroken fifth-wicket partnership which took West Indies to the required 93-5 in 17.1 overs.

Ireland 123 (N.J. Coffey 32, D.G.K. Small 3-27) lost to West Indies 93-5 (D.J.S. Dottin 33 n.o.) by 5 wickets  

 WEST INDIES WOMEN COME IN FROM THE COLD

“There is a gap to catch up”
“Lot of responsibility for the older players”

Nadine George, the West Indies women's captain, hopes her side's tour of Ireland, Netherlands and England will not be affected by the team's three-year absence from the international circuit.

"It has been very disappointing to not have any international matches and to get experience of playing against the top sides," she said. "There is a gap to catch up and hopefully this tour will enhance our ability and give us a greater edge and hopefully help us move closer to the top four."

George is leading a very inexperienced side on the tour to Europe, with 11 out of 16 players yet to make their international debuts. "There is a lot of responsibility on the older players to fine-tune their game. In the past few days we have had a training camp and got some assessment on how we did on the training programmes and all the feedback has been extremely positive so far."

West Indies begin the tournament with three ODIs and a Twenty20 against Ireland starting June 24 and George said it would be a challenge playing in Europe since the conditions in the Caribbean were so different. "The weather factors mean that the ball swings a lot more, but we have played some local matches against boys that have really helped us, as some of them have helped expose us to swing bowling."

West Indies last played Ireland in the World Cup 2005 where they beat them by eight wickets. But George did not think that win would matter on this tour. "Before that they had beaten us in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2003. I'm not too familiar with their players, apart from Clare Shillington."

After their tour of Ireland, West Indies head to Netherlands in July for four ODIs and two Twenty20s and then over to England for two ODIs.

Few international players
“very focused group of girls”

Nadine George will captain a very inexperienced West Indies for the first time during their tour of Ireland, Netherlands and England. Eleven of the 16-player squad are set to make their international debuts on the trip which begins next week in Ireland, with one of them - Chedean Nation, named as vice-captain.

It's hardly a surprise that the side have so few international players among them: West Indies women have not played any international cricket for the last three years. This tour was arranged late but will finally guarantee them their spot at next year's World Cup in Australia and the following World Twenty20 tournament in England. They had been in the unusual position of having qualified automatically but they still faced missing out through ineligibility by not having played the required number of international matches.

A proposed tour to West Indies by India and Pakistan fell through, but the Ireland, Netherlands and England boards all stepped in to agree to host ODIs. Now the squad have 12 matches in which to acclimatise to the rigours of international cricket ahead of a big year next year. Of those 12 games, only two of them are ODIs against a qualifying side - England. West Indies will also make their Twenty20 debut on their tour.

Despite their lack of international exposure, their head coach Sherwin Campbell said the team is extremely confident and focused. "This is a young team but a very focused group of girls who are committed to what they are doing. The tour will include one-dayers as well as Twenty20s so we have been gearing up with that in mind," Campbell said. "The Twenty20s will be new to the girls so this tour will give them an opportunity to get some experience.

"We are looking at the development of the players as individuals and also as a team. We want to see the girls improving on their personal best performances and we also want to form a cohesive unit. It's international sport and at this level results as very important, so we will be going all out to win all three series."

George was the first West Indian to make a century in women's Tests (against Pakistan in 2004) while the four other international players are Anisa Mohammed, Kirbyina Alexander, Juliana Nero and Debbie-Ann Lewis, who will spearhead the bowling attack.

The squad departs on Saturday after a four-day high-performance camp.

Squad
Nadine George (capt), Merissa Aguilleira, Kirbyina Alexander, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Stacy-Ann King, Lee-Ann Kirby, Debbie-Ann Lewis, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Julianna Nero, Gaitri Seetahal, Shakera Selman, Danielle Small, Charlene Taitt, Stefanie Taylor.