Dhaka-West Indies won their fifth match in a row, easily defeating Sri Lanka by 58 runs yesterday, to reach the final of the International Cricket Council's Women's World Cup 2013 qualification tournament.The girls from the Caribbean made a challenging 235-5 off their 50 overs at the Khanshaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah and restricted Sri Lanka to 177-7 off their 50 overs.The West Indies will now play Pakistan in the Final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur tomorrow. The Pakistanis reached the Final with a surprise three-wicket victory over the previously unbeaten South Africa.
Batting first on a good surface, West Indies took time to get into the swing of things with Stafanie Taylor, captain Merissa Aguilleira and top-scorer Deandra Dottin all making half-centuries.Taylor made 58 off 99 balls with six boundaries-the 11th half-century of her career. Dottin cracked seven fours and two sixes in 73 off 86 balls which earned her the Player-of-the-Match award.Aguilleira in her second knock of the tournament proved to be the perfect finisher as she hit four boundaries and a six in a run-a-ball 52 not out-her second half-century in her 40th One-Day International.
Speaking after the match, coach Sherwin Campbell said he was happy to note that more and more players were coming to the fore. "Before, it was one of two players while others would make vital contributions, but now others are stepping up to the plate and winning matches for us with both bat and ball," the former West Indies vice captain said.Looking ahead to the final, Campbell said: "We beat Pakistan in the preliminary but we won't be taking anything for granted. We came here to win six games and we have won five so far. I will caution the girls against celebrating too early. There is a trophy to win for West Indies cricket."
SCOREboard
West Indies v Sri Lanka
WEST INDIES WOMEN INNS
S Taylor c wk Surangika b Siriwardene 58
J Nero c Galagedara b Ranasinghe 18
S Daley c Galagedara b Ranasinghe 0
D Dottin lbw b Kaushalya 73
M Aguilleira not out 52
S King run out (Ranasinghe) 0
B Cooper not out 23
Extras (lb2, w8, nb1) 11
TOTAL (5 wks, 50 overs) 235
Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-48, 3-116, 4-186, 5-192.
Bowling: Kaushalya 8-0-54-1 (w1), Seneviratna 10-2-34-0 (nb1), Ranasinghe 10-1-31-2, de Alwis 8-1-43-0, Siriwardene 10-0-44-1 (w1), Ravikumar 4-0-0-27-0 (w1).
SRI LANKA WOMEN INNS
A Jayangani c Selman b Taylor 56
B Mendis run out (Mohammed) 20
H Siriwardene c Taylor b King 4
S Dolawatte b King 6
S Galagedara b Mohammed 9
M Surangika c Knight b Mohammed 4
L Kaushalya c Campbell b Mohammed 0
S de Alwis not out 39
C Seneviratne not out 28
Extras (b3, lb1, w7) 11
TOTAL (7 wks, 50 overs) 177
Fall of wickets: 1-67, 2-80, 3-85, 4-89, 5-102, 6-102, 7-107.
Bowling: Selman 7-3-18-0, Daley 10-3-22-0, Mohammed 6-1-29-3, King 10-1-30-2 (w1), Taylor 7-1-21-1 (w1), Campbelle 8-0-35-0 (w1), Dottin 2-0-18-0 (w3).
Result: West Indies won by 58 runs.
Toss: West Indies.
Series: West Indies advanced.
