WI women beat Sri Lanka by two wickets

An unbroken ninth wicket stand of 41 between Shanel Daley and Anisa Mohammed led West Indies Women to a two-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in their rain-hit first One-Day International yesterday at St Paul’s Recreation Ground in St Kitts.



Daley hit two fours in the top score of 23 not out from 28 balls, and Mohammed made 15 not out from 27 balls, as the Windies Women, chasing 130 for victory from their allocation of 33 overs, reached their target with three balls to spare.



The Windies Women had restricted the Sri Lankans to 129 for eight from 33 overs, after rain delayed the start by an hour-and-a-half, and the hosts won the toss.



Bowling for West Indies Women Daniel Small collected two wickets for 18 runs from five overs, and Shakera Selman had two for 24 from four overs.



The two teams will play a second 50 overs-a-side match tomorrow at Warner Park before three 20/20 practice matches on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday all at St. Mary’s Park.



Both sides are using the matches to fine-tune their preparations for the Women’s 20/20 World Cup, which opens on May 5 in the Caribbean.



West Indies are drawn in Group-A of the competition, alongside World 20/20 champions England, as well as Australia, and South Africa.



Sri Lanka have been placed in Group-B with 2009 runners-up New Zealand, as well as fellow Asian sides India and Pakistan.