Taylor looking to carry momentum as WI eye clean sweep against Ireland

BREADY, Ireland (CMC):

Veteran West Indies batter Stafanie Taylor is oozing with confidence as her team stands on the brink of a clean sweep against Ireland, following a masterclass in batting at Bready Cricket Club on Sunday.

Speaking on the eve of the third and final ODI, Taylor reflected on a dominant performance in the second match, where she remained unbeaten on an even 100, sharing the spotlight with captain Hayley Matthews, who also notched a century.

The partnership propelled the West Indies to a comprehensive six-wicket victory, setting the stage for a potential whitewash.

“I love batting with Hayley Matthews; we do support each other because we know how each other plays,” Taylor told CWI Media. “So it is easy to bat with her.”

The century carried significant emotional weight for the veteran. While she has been a prolific run-scorer globally, the milestone against Ireland was particularly personal.

“This century is a bit special, because my highest score that I got against Ireland is around 90, and with that score, winning the game put the icing on the cake,” Taylor explained. “When I scored the century against Australia, we lost the game, but scoring a century against any team is great.”

The knock also cemented her dominance over the Irish bowling attack, as Taylor surpassed 500 ODI runs against Ireland—a testament to her consistency.

Despite the fireworks, Taylor revealed that her approach was far from reckless. With the Windies chasing a target and wickets potentially tumbling, she emphasised the importance of mental discipline over raw aggression.

“For me, it is all about resetting. I know how this team plays, so for me it’s about knocking it around and getting the other batters into the game,” she said. “When a wicket falls, you can’t just go bang, bang; you have to reset and pick up singles.”

That philosophy was put to the ultimate test in the final stages of the chase. With the West Indies needing 11 runs to win and Taylor sitting on 90, the tension was palpable.

“For me, I said to Shemaine Campbelle, I didn’t care about the hundred as long as we got over the line, because I didn’t want to train the next day,” Taylor joked.

The West Indies will now head into the final ODI today looking to maintain their ruthless streak and secure the 3-0 sweep.