Australia Women beat West Indies in opener

Alana King spun a web around the West Indies Women as Australia cruised to a 43-run victory in the first CG United Twenty20 International at the Arnos Vale Ground on Thursday. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0.

The leg-spinner returned spectacular figures of four overs, one maiden, three for 14 to rip the heart out of the home side's chase after Australia had posted 164 for six from their 20 overs, built around a polished 79 from opener Beth Mooney.

King removed the dangerous Windies skipper Hayley Matthews for 11, then returned to snare the wickets of Shemaine Campbelle for 15 and Deandra Dottin for a four-ball duck to leave the hosts reeling on 76 for four in the 13th over.

From there, the required rate ballooned, and despite a fighting 45 in 39 balls from opener Qiana Joseph and a typically elegant 28 from Stafanie Taylor, the hosts were restricted to 121 for six.

Earlier, after being inserted on a decent surface, Australia lost early wickets but recovered through a pivotal 99-run stand between Mooney and Ellyse Perry.

Deandra Dottin provided the initial spark for the Windies with the new ball, bowling with genuine pace to remove opener Georgia Voll for eight, caught behind via a thick edge.

When Jahzara Claxton had Phoebe Litchfield well caught by Glasgow at mid-on for six, the visitors were wobbling at 34 for two in the sixth over.

But Mooney and Perry rebuilt with patience and precision. Mooney, given a life on 28 when dropped by Campbelle down the leg side, made the hosts pay. She brought up her 50 from 42 balls with a swept six off Afy Fletcher, while Perry rotated the strike with authority.

The pair motored along at nearly nine an over, taking the score to 133 before Dottin returned to have Perry caught for 36. The Barbadian star finished with three for 35 from her four overs.

Mooney eventually fell for 79 from 55 balls to Chinelle Henry after scoring her highest T20I score against the West Indies. Henry, who also claimed the wicket of Gardner, finished with two for 28.