Aguillera optimistic after winning start to Super Six

CUTTACK—West Indies Women’s captain Merissa Aguillera said she was happy to start the Super Six stage of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 with a victory over South Africa Women in India yesterday.

Chasing 231 for victory, the Windies Women stuttered before prevailing by two wickets over the South Africans at the Barabati Stadium when the Super Six opened. 

World No 1 Women’s all-rounder Stafanie Taylor smashed 75 from 78 balls to put the Caribbean side on course and was well supported with 46 from opener Kycia Knight.

The pair put on 126 runs for the second wicket before the Windies Women wobbled to 196 for six and Shemaine Campbelle came to their rescue with 33 from 42 balls. “We well understand the position which we face right now,” Aguilleira said at the post-play media conference.

“It’s the Super Six and we have new rules and we can ill-afford to make mistakes, so we have to be on top of our game, whichever team we play. “We knew we had to start the Super Six on a good note and this is an example of a good note. We could have done it much easier, but I guess there are areas in which we need to improve, and after all, it’s about moving forward.”

Aguilleira said though her side pulled through to overcome the South Africans, the batting was still inconsistent and they had to find a way to put this right. “One thing coach [Sherwin Campbell] always tells us is that once we ‘get in’ as batters, we needed to bat through and that’s one of the areas we are not really accomplishing consistently,” she said. “We need to be far more patient.”

The Windies Women face a difficult path to reach the Grand Final following an up-and-down performance in the group stage. With the points the teams gained from the teams they beat in group play being brought forward, Aguilleira’s side has four points and will need to topple two former champions New Zealand and Australia.

“We have to take it to them as well,” she said. “We have been faltering a bit against the sides ranked above us, where we have been going out there and not being positive against them. “I guess it’s about a turning point now and we know how important playing well will be and so we have to continue going out there, playing hard, motivating each other and doing what we have to do as a team.” (Courtesy WICB Web site)