AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands - (CMC) - West Indies Women qualified for the 2005 Women's Cricket World Cup by crushing Japan by ten wickets at the International Women's Cricket Council Trophy tournament yesterday.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat Japan were bowled out for 62 in the last of their allotted 50 overs.
The West Indies easily scored the runs in nine overs without losing a wicket with openers Nadine George and Nelly Williams scoring 35 and 18 respectively.
The bowlers who did the damage for the West Indies were Philipa Thomas who took three wickets from eight overs and two balls and Verena Felicien who grabbed two wickets from her ten overs.
Coach Ann Browne-John said what made their win more exciting was the fact that Anisa Mohammed, playing in her first international match, bowled ten overs for only four runs during which she took a wicket.
The West Indies join Ireland in qualifying for the World Cup which will be held in South Africa in 2005.
The team is scheduled to return to the region tomorrow.