Cricket: NZ women lose final warm-up

New Zealand completed their warm-up programme for the women's Twenty20 cricket world championship in the Caribbean with a three-wicket loss to the West Indies at Cayon, St Kitts, today (NZT).

Batting first after winning the toss, New Zealand scored 153 runs for seven.

Their leading scorers Aimee Watkins and Nicola Browne were retired after scoring 56 off 36 balls and 30 off 19 respectively to give other players time in the middle.

Sara McGlashan was next best with 20 off 19 balls before being bowled by Deandra Dottin.

Seven West Indies' batsmen all reached double figures as they reached their target of 154 off the last ball of the innings while losing seven wickets.

Deandra Dottin laid the foundation with a blistering 31 off 17 with tail enders Pamela Lavine (17 ) and Merissa Aguilleira (11) sharing an unbeaten 19 run partnership for the eighth wicket to ensure victory.

Watkins was the best of the New Zealand bowlers, taking three wickets for 23 runs.

New Zealand who beat Australia by 18 runs in a warm-up match at Molyneaux, St Kitts, yesterday, play India in their opening world championship match on Friday morning (NZT).

Watkins said afterwards she was pleased with the White Ferns' progress.

"We have tried to give most people some sort of opportunity over the last two days and there is healthy competition for places," she said.

The bowling was guilty of delivering 10 wides and three no-balls today and Watkins knows that this is an area they need to concentrate on.

"We need to execute our basic skills more consistently and that the game is never over - one big over can change the momentum so quickly."

Score: New Zealand 153-7, 20 overs (Aimee Watkins 56 retired out, Nicola Browne 30 retired out, Sara McGlashan 20; Shanel Daley 1-15) lost to West Indies 154-7, 20 overs (Deandra Dottin 31, Juliana Nero 20; Aimee Watkins 3-23) by three wickets.

- NZPA