Taylor, spinners help West Indies overcome Scotland threat

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. Scotland, who had already defeated Ireland in their opening match, were on track for another significant loss, chasing 154. 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,

The scoreboard was ticking for a while thanks to Shemaine Campbelle, but Scotland continued to dominate the game with regular goals. 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 Taylor, who was back, scored a crucial goal at a crucial point in the game to save her team and turn the game around at the end. Taylor turned up the heat in the final three overs by smashing boundaries at will, with Jahzara Claxton also contributing. 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.

Scotland did not seem to be bothered by Taylor's heroic death, which appeared to drain their momentum. With a rollicking start in the Powerplay, they were able to put the WI under pressure once more in a short amount of time. 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. Dottin's hat trick of wides for Scotland made it 22 off 12 in no time. 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. Before the big wicket of Lister, the batter lost her leg stump while attempting a scoop, Carter was caught and bowled for 59. After that, Alleyne lost Kirstie Gordon to the first ball, giving her a three-wicket haul. With 17 needed off the final over, Scotland could just manage 8.