WI survive Scotland scare to make it two in two

Scotland put up a spirited effort against West Indies in the second game of the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup, nearly toppling them before ultimately falling short by 7 runs. Chasing 154, Scotland were on course for another big scalp having already beaten Ireland in their opening game. However, needing 22 from 12 with five wickets in hand, Scotland collapsed in the penultimate over losing three wickets which ultimately led to them going down.

West Indies, who were boosted by the returns of Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry, were asked to bat first by Scotland. Even though Qiona Joseph slammed the very first ball of the contest for a boundary, run-scoring proved to be difficult in the Powerplay. With WI scoring only 20 from the first 4 overs, something had to give as Joseph perished while attempting a big heave. Hayley Matthews, who endured a frustrating outing was the next to depart as she got castled for a 22-ball 14, leaving her side in a spot of bother. At the halfway point, the 2016 champions were precariously placed at 59/2,

Shemaine Campbelle kept the scorecard ticking for a while but Scotland remained on top of the contest with regular strikes. With Henry also departing for a low score, things appeared bleak for West Indies at 85/5 with the run rate still not going over 6. But the returning Taylor then came up with a clutch knock at a crucial junction of the game to bail her side out and turn the contest around at the death. With Jahzara Claxton also chipping in, Taylor turned on the heat in the final three overs by smashing boundaries at will. She ensured the innings finished on a high by smashing two sixes in the final over to power West Indies past 150 - with 40 runs coming from the last three overs.

Even though their momentum seemed drained by Taylor's death over heroics, Scotland remained unperturbed. They took little time to put the WI under pressure again with a rollicking start in the Powerplay. Katherine Fraser kickstarted the chase with a couple of boundaries and Darcey Carter followed it up with three in the second over. The duo continued to maintain their dominance and helped Scotland race to 51/0 in just five overs. Matthews then dragged her side back into the contest by breaking the partnership in the final over of the Powerplay and followed it up with Kathryn Bryce's wicket just two balls later that sucked the momentum out of Scotland's chase.

The procession then continued as Afy Fletcher then struck in her first over before Matthews pegged Scotland back further with her third scalp. In a matter of 13 deliveries, 51/0 became 58/4. Scotland's hopes were now firmly resting on the shoulders of Carter who watched her teammates depart in quick fashion, one after the other. With the run rate dipping massively, WI took control of the contest before Carter found an able ally in the form of Ailsa Lister to revive the chase. Lister batted in positive fashion and made use of the reprieve she received to drag the contest right till the end.

With Carter also raising a fighting fifty, this contest was heading down to the wire. Lister then gave WI a massive scare when she slammed Joseph for a four and a six in the 17th over that brought the equation down to 35 off 18. It soon became 22 off 12 with Dottin aiding Scotland with a hat-trick of wides. Aaliya Alleyne, who had bowled just a solitary over up until that point, returned to bowl the crucial penultimate over. By the end of that over, the contest had firmly swung in favour of her side as she ended up picking three wickets. Carter was first caught and bowled for 59 before the big wicket of Lister followed with the batter losing her leg stump while attempting a scoop. Kirstie Gordon was then knocked over first ball to give Alleyne a three-wicket haul. With 17 needed off the final over, Scotland could just manage 8.

Brief scores: West Indies 153/6 in 20 overs (Stafanie Taylor 47*, Shemaine Campbelle 36; Katherine Fraser 2-34) beat Scotland 146 in 20 overs (Darcey Carter 59, Ailsa Lister 33; Aaliyah Alleyne 3-11, Hayley Matthews 3-19) by 7 runs