BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Anisa Mohammed found the perfect way to celebrate a career milestone, snatching 5-12 off four overs in her 50th T20 International, to lead West Indies to a big win over New Zealand in the opening match of the Women’s Tri Series.
Playing under lights on Monday, the off-spinner was the toast of Kensington Oval as West Indies made 104-5 off 20 overs and defended it by dismissing the White Ferns for 81. Operating from the Joel Garner End, she took three wickets in her third over and two in the fourth to end the match.
When they batted, West Indies owed a lot to Deandra Dottin who made 52 off 50 balls with two sixes. She came to the crease at 18-3 and scored half her team’s total score – as the West Indies muscled 71 runs in the final 10 overs.
“It was my 50th T20 for West Indies and I wanted to make it special – five wickets in my 50th match and I really, really enjoyed it. Lately I have been struggling to get wickets so to come here and deliver on the big stage means a lot to me,” Mohammed said.
“I came on and looked to bowl ‘dot’ balls. The idea was that hopefully that would carry up the (required) run rate. The wickets were a bonus for me and it so happened I got three and then two to finish the match off.”
Mohammed is the leading bowler in the history of West Indies women’s cricket with 164 international wickets – 69 in 50 T20s and 95 in 69 ODIs. She is 25 years old but is a veteran at this level – having debuted as a 14-year-old back in 2003 against Japan.
Despite her own heroics, Mohammed was full of praise for Dottin’s batting.
“I thought she played a really sensible innings and gave us a real score to fight with. When we went on we had just lost three wickets,” Mohammed said.
“She is known for her power-hitting but she played a really sensible innings and was able to stick around made sure the batting did not come down to the tail-enders.”
The victory took West Indies to the top of the points table with four points and they will next face England on Friday night. England take on New Zealand on Wednesday night, in the next tournament match.
“We have England coming up on Friday and they are a tougher team. As I said before,” said Mohammed. “Our team have grown over the last few years and we will look to play them hard and get a win in that game as well.”