The West Indian women's team made a rare appearance earlier this month when they played host to the touring Lancashire side. Despite limited opportunities in recent years, the West Indians were much too strong for the Lancastrians, winning their five-match one-day series 4-0.

The West Indies last played at full international level in the 1997 Women's World Cup, where they finished last in their group and were excluded from the 2000 event. Financial constraints have prevented the WIWCF (West Indian Women's Cricket Federation) from sending a team overseas. Lancashire finished second in Division Two of the English women's county championship in 2000, effectively making them the eighth-ranked team in the country. They travelled to the Caribbean with two players with full England experience, Arran Thompson and Leanne Davis.

Following a warm-up match against Trinidad & Tobago on April 4, they suffered a heavy defeat in the first game of the series against the West Indies at Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain on April 5. The West Indies, batting first, scored 172 for 7 from 45 overs, Juliana Nero top scoring with 46. Tight bowling restricted the Lancastrians in reply to just 68 for 9 in their 45 overs. West Indian captain, spin bowler Verina Felicien, took the remarkable figures of 3/2 from ten overs.

In the second game of the series at Port of Spain, WI again came out winners by 64 runs, Debbie Ann Lewis top-scoring with 38 for the home side. In game three, Roslyn Emanuel (52) and Verina Felicien (3/13) were the stars as the West Indies sealed the series with a 48-run victory.

The Lancastrians' move on to St Lucia for the second leg of their tour did little to improve their fortunes. Facing the local St Lucia side at Micoud Playing Field on April 11, Lancashire batted first to score 122 for 8 in their 50 overs (Salliann Briggs 27, Susan White 26, Julietta Herman 3/12). However, the home side found the target much too easy, losing just three wickets and sealing the win with 19.2 overs to spare. Eugena Gregg was top score for the St Lucians with 48.

Lancashire registered their best result against the West Indies in Game Four of the series at Mindoo Phillip Park, Castries on April 14. Batting first, they made 176 for 9 off their fifty overs. The West Indies were then dismissed for exactly the same total, the match ending in a tie with five balls to spare.

The West Indies completed their undefeated run in the series with an eight-wicket victory in the final game at Mindoo Phillip Park on Sunday, April 15. Lancashire scored 135 for 7 in 50 overs after winning the toss and batting first (Susan White 39, Arran Thompson 32, Jacqueline Robinson 3/28, Juliana Nero 2/23). The West Indies needed 44.4 overs to score the required runs with two wickets in hand (Juliana Nero 20, Arran Thompson 2/29).

Carol Whilby-Maxwell, manager of the West Indian team and president of the WIWCF, was full of praise for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and their assistance in making the Lancashire tour a reality.

The Lancashire touring team: Arran Thompson (capt), Jane Loran, Carol Ingham, Stella Peters, Jane Waine, Patricia Wilkinson, Caroline Loran, Salli Ann Briggs, Susan White, Le Anne Davis, Nicola Davis, Rachel Walsh, Holly Thompson and Lauran Aidred.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd