Stafanie Taylor’s all-round class helped West Indies survive a scare against debutants Thailand in their Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 opener here on Friday.
Thailand chose to bat first but struggled to score heavily at the WACA, leaving teenage keeper-batter Nannapat Khoncharoenkai to step up and anchor the innings with 33 from 48 balls.
Captain Taylor held their Group B opponents to 78 for nine with her three wickets, but Thailand’s fielding strength came to the fore with Lee-Ann Kirby, Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin all departing before the seventh over to spark thoughts of an upset.
But Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle stayed firm and their unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 53 sealed the win. Taylor (26 not out) brought West Indies up to 50 with three boundaries and Campbelle (25 not out) swept three of her own to steer her country to their first WT20I victory in nine games.