Sport

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

West Indies women's quest for a spot in the World Twenty20 Championship final finished in disappointment yesterday, when they slid to a 56-run defeat to New Zealand.

Chasing a daunting target of 181, West Indies faltered after a promising start to collapse to 124 for eight off their allotted 20 overs at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium.

Opener Stafanie Taylor slammed 40 from 33 balls at the top of the order, but when she was disastrously run out in the 11th over the West Indies innings went into terminal decline.

Run out

Taylor, who stroked three fours and two sixes, added 41 for the second wicket with Cordel Jack (18) before the innings went into spin with her departure - via the run out route - at 71 for three.

Earlier, Sara McGlashan top scored with 84 from 55 balls with six fours and two sixes, to push New Zealand up to what would have always been a challenging total, after they were asked to bat first.

The Windies were doing well to keep last year's losing finalists at 49 for two in the eighth over, but a 93-run third wicket stand between McGlashan and Sophie Devine put the game out of their reach.