Australia go 1-0 up with comfortable win despite Stafanie Taylor century

Australia began Sophie Molineux's stint as ODI captain with a comfortable 103-run win over West Indies in the first match in St Kitts. The visitors piled up 341 before restricting West Indies to 238/8 despite Stafanie Taylor's 105 not out.

Opting to bat, Australia got off to a strong start with a 75-run opening stand. Georgia Voll made 42 off 32 while Phoebe Litchfield anchored the innings with 77 off 72 balls, with West Indies dropping her twice along the way. Ellyse Perry kept the momentum going with 44 off 46, but a brief slowdown followed after a cluster of wickets.

Molineux, batting at No. 4, survived two stumping chances from debutant Tahlia Wilson and went on to make 47 in a 91-run stand with Nicola Carey, who in turn scored 49. Apart from that rebuild, late contributions from Georgia Wareham (42) pushed Australia past 300 and helped them finish with a strong total. Afy Fletcher finished with three wickets but conceded as many as 83 runs in her 10 overs.

West Indies needed a big chase but lost early wickets, including captain Hayley Matthews, and fell behind quickly. Stafanie Taylor held the innings together with an unbeaten hundred, her first ODI century since 2021, but lacked support. Chinelle Henry's 38 was the next best score.

Kim Garth was the pick of the bowlers and went on to remove both the openers as she finished with 3 for 37. Deandra Dottin was run out by Ashleigh Gardner in the 16th over, and even though Chinelle Henry and Taylor added 73 for the fourth wicket, Australia stayed in control throughout. Gardner chipped in with a couple of wickets as WI fell way short of the target.

Brief Scores: Australia 341 all out (Litchfield 77; Fletcher 3-83) beat WI 238/8 (Taylor 105*; Garth 3-37) by 103 runs