Captains deliver on second day in Australia

• Stafanie Taylor shone with bat and ball for West Indies
• Records were broken at the WACA as Sophie Devine continued her impressive form
• England and South Africa get their campaigns underway in Perth on Sunday

Stafanie Taylor took three wickets before her unbeaten 26 helped West Indies overcome debutants Thailand, who had threatened a surprise comeback when defending a low total.

New Zealand had a similarly mixed start to their chase but skipper Sophie Devine dug deep and extended her own world record in the win over Sri Lanka.

The opener made her sixth successive 50+ score in T20Is to help the White Ferns chase 128 at the WACA Ground, victory giving them the ideal start to Group A.

Taylor steps up to the mark as Thailand impress on debut

Stafanie Taylor had to deliver with both bat and ball as Thailand threatened to take the scalp of former champions West Indies on their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup debut.

Taylor took three for 13 as her side impressed early on, all six bowlers used taking a wicket as Thailand were restricted to 78 for nine from their 20 overs.

Nannapat Khoncharoenkai saw wickets tumble around her but the talented teenager held her own to top score with 33 from 48 balls.

That total looked under-par but Thailand’s terrific energy and performance in the field saw them rock the 2016 champions, with Lee-Ann Kirby and Deandra Dottin both run-out in single figures.

At 27 for three, West Indies were in trouble but Taylor (26 not out) and Shemaine Campbelle (25 not out) – on her 100th T20I appearance – steered their side to a seven-wicket win in Group B.

“It wasn’t great seeing our wickets fall so early, but I’m relieved I can smile now,” said captain Taylor.

“It’s tricky to play a team like Thailand who we have never played before. You have to spend a little bit of time at the crease getting used to their bowlers and we didn’t do that properly at the start of our innings.

“They gave us some nervous moments. Their bowling attack can definitely cause some trouble at this year’s World Cup.

“They have some really good bowlers and I think in a few years’ time, they will be giving teams challenges.”

Thailand batter Nattaya Boochatham added: “We know we could have had a chance if we’d got more runs on the board.

“We scored too few, but we think our performance will make people take us more seriously.

“It has given us motivation to do better and show we can compete on the global stage. It’s been a long time waiting and we are so excited to be out on the ground at a World Cup.”

Record-breaking Devine steers White Ferns to victory

Sophie Devine will have many more fluent innings in her career but you couldn’t fault the significance of this one, as New Zealand secured a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

The White Ferns chase of 128 didn’t start quickly as the captain and Rachel Priest struggled for rhythm, with Suzie Bates (13) also dismissed before the halfway point.

Maddy Green’s career-best 29, coupled with some late hitting from record breaker Devine (75 not out), took New Zealand over the line as they prevailed in Perth with two overs to spare.

Chamari Athapaththu (41) had earlier looked like giving the favourites a headache after putting on 60 with Hasini Perera for the first wicket.

But the middle overs belonged to New Zealand, Amelia Kerr (two for 21) and Hayley Jensen (three for 16) putting the brakes on Sri Lanka after Athapaththu fell in the 12th over.

“I thought we did a great job to get it back after their great start with the bat,” said Devine. “We knew that if we got a couple of quick wickets we’d be back in the game and we just had to put the strangle on them.

“They certainly put us under the pump early on but it was great pressure for us to be under. They bowled particularly well at the start, both Priest and I like scoring boundaries and they contained us really well.

“Hayley was fantastic. She was really clear and simple. Sometimes you can get carried away at the WACA with trying to bounce people too much but she put them under pressure in good areas.”

Sri Lanka coach Harsha de Silva added: “We’re disappointed. I thought we fell short by about 30 runs in our batting, and missed opportunities with the ball probably cost us the game. Catches win matches, after all.

“The girls don’t play much under the lights, but we can’t make excuses.

“We’re here to win this tournament. If we win our next three games, we’re still well into a chance.”

Scores in brief

West Indies beat Thailand by seven wickets, WACA Ground, PerthThailand 78-9, 20 overs (Nannapat Khoncharoenkai 33; Stafanie Taylor 3-13)
West Indies 80-3, 16.4 overs (Stafanie Taylor 26 not out, Shemaine Campbell 25 not out; Soraya Lateh 1-21)

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets, WACA Ground, Perth

Sri Lanka 127-7, 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 41; Hayley Jensen 3-16, Amelia Kerr 2-21)
New Zealand 131-3, 17.4 overs (Sophie Devine 75 not out, Maddy Green 29; Kavisha Dilhari 1-19)