By E. Glenford Prescott
Deandra Dottin produced another sumptuous half century but just failed to push the West Indies over the line as they went down to New Zealand by way of the Super Over to lose the three-match T20 International series at the Arnos Vale Playing Field on Saturday in front of another splendid crowd.
Set a target of 112 for victory, the West Indies overcame some early problems being 21/3 in the fifth over to tie the scores at the end of the regular innings, with Dottin (54) navigating the innings with another exotic display at the crease.
She, however, could not conjure up such magic in the Super Over and was out stumped first ball as the West Indies stuttered their way to 5 runs for the loss of 2 wickets off the over bowled by left-arm spinner Morna Nelsen, who also bowled Shemaine Campbelle (2) off the last ball. New Zealand then needed only 4 deliveries, including a free-hit, to achieve their target, with captain Suzie Bates cutting Shanel Daly to the point boundary to silence the crowd and spur celebrations among her teammates.
The visitors took the series 2-1 to erase their 4-0 thrashing in the preceding One-Day International series in St. Kitts.
But before the polytechnics, a Super Over looked way out of the question as the visitors looked to be coasting to an easy victory as the pair of spinner, Amy Satterthwaite, with 4 for 24, and seamer Hayley Jensen, with 3 for 16, had put the West Indies ladies — who lost wickets steadily — under tremendous pressure.
It was left to Dottin to once more conjure up another high class innings in which she struck 3 fours and 3 sixes off the 46 balls she faced to keep hope alive and set tongues wagging. But with 4 needed off 3, she perished.
The West Indies had begun some recovery through Dottin, and Campbelle (13) once again led a recovery by adding 46 for the fourth wicket. The pair had taken the West Indies to victory on Thursday with an unbroken 68-run partnership for the same wicket. On Saturday, they looked to be setting the West Indies, who were without talismanic player Stafanie Taylor, on the road to victory, before Campbelle lofted a catch to deep mid off to begin a slide which saw the loss of 3 wickets for 8 runs in 17 balls as the Windies indulged in what was described by one analyst as “some thoughtless cricket”.
Dottin, who was starved of the strike facing only three balls in three overs, then squeezed out 15 for the seventh wicket with Shanel Daley (5) and another 18 for the eighth wicket with Anisa Mohammed (5 not out), which left West Indies needing 13 to win from the last over bowled by Satterthwaite.
Mohammed got a single from the first ball and Dottin a couple to deep extra cover from the second before smoking a long-hop over the extra cover boundary. That shot raised her half century and lifted the home team closer to an unlikely victory.
That, however, was Dottin’s last contribution to proceedings as she hit the next ball powerfully to cover, where Nelsen held a good low catch. Tremayne Smart scrambled a single off the fifth, to leave the Windies Women needing three of the last ball.
Urged on and given advice by the crowd most of whom were on their feet, Mohammed then swung to extra cover and completed two runs to ensure the Super Over, much to their delight.
Earlier, New Zealand were held to 111 for 4, with Katie Perkins top-scoring with 31 not out off 20 balls and Sophie Devine getting 30 from 47 deliveries. Opener Rachel Priest (29) continued her consistent form with her third consecutive score of over 25.
Dottin, who scored 97 runs and took 6 wickets in the three match series, was named Player of the Series.
Summary Scores:
New Zealand Women: 111/4 (20 Overs). Katie Perkins 31*, Sophie Devine 30, Rachel Priest+ 29, Maddy Green 8; Tremayne Smartt 3-0-13-1, Shanel Daley 4-0-23-1, Deandra Dottin 4-0-23-1, Shaquana Quintyne 2-0-13-1.
West Indies Women: 111/8 (20 Overs). Deandra Dottin 54, Hayley Matthews 14, Shemaine Campbelle 13, Anisa Mohammed 5*; Amy Satterthwaite 4-0-24-4, Hayley Jensen 4-1-16-3, Lea Tahuhu 4-0-18-1, Maddy Green 1-0-3-0.