Dottin and Mohammed star as West Indies crowned champions

West Indies on Saturday were crowned as champions of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2011, after defeating Pakistan by 130 runs.

By virtue of winning the tournament, West Indies has risen in the Reliance ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings - West Indies now sits fifth in the world while Pakistan has risen from eighth to now occupy sixth place.

ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor was named Player of the Tournament. Taylor was the highest run-scorer in the tournament after the 20-year-old from Jamaica amassed 325 runs at an average of 81.25, she also claimed 10 wickets at an average of 9.30.

West Indies batter Deandra Dottin’s 95 runs helped the side to a large total, while Anisa Mohammed proved to be the key spinner of the day claiming seven wickets for 14 runs, Mohammed was named Player of the Final.

In the third/fourth play-off between Sri Lanka and South Africa at Khanshaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Sri Lanka defeated South Africa by three wickets. Sri Lanka has maintained its global ranking of seven, while South Africa has slipped from fifth to eighth.

In Bangladesh’s first ODI since gaining international status on 24 November, Salma Khatun’s side defeated Ireland at BKSP* 2 to claim its inaugural position in the Reliance ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings at number nine, Ireland now occupy the 10th place.

In the seventh/eighth play-off, The Netherlands comfortably defeated USA by 126 runs at BKSP 3.

A delighted Aguilleira said: “It is truly fantastic to walk away with the tournament trophy and undefeated at that and to also know we have improved on the global rankings.

“It’s been a brilliant event, with some competitive cricket played - I’m extremely happy with the team effort, we have been consistent out there and it has paid off.”

Player of the Match, Mohammed added: “It’s been great to play here in the sub-continent where the wickets are good for spin. I had hoped to take five wickets in the final but to walk away with seven wickets, I’m thrilled and to have helped the side to winning the final too.”

Player of the Tournament, and current ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, Taylor commented on her award: “I came into this event wanting to score 500 runs, so I’m a little disappointed to have fallen short of the mark - I need to go back to Jamaica and work on my batting to get even better.

“I’m thrilled to have received the Player of the Tournament trophy, but it was very much a team effort throughout the event and I’m happy we’ve walked away with the trophy and an improved global ranking too.”

Pakistan captain, Sana was disappointed with the loss but admitted West Indies were the better side on the day. “We know we can play better cricket than we did today, but that being said, credit must go to the West Indies team who played a superb all-round game.

“We’re pleased we have qualified for both the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 and the ICC Women’s World Cup, plus we have gone up in the Reliance ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings from eighth to sixth which I am thrilled about.”