Hayley Matthews. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Hayley Matthews once again turned out to be the thorn in Ireland’s flesh as West Indies won the third T20I by eight wickets at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia on July 8. After losing the ODI series 0-2 and being 0-2 down in the T20I series, Ireland took the field to salvage some pride in the last match of the tour as captain Laura Delany won the toss and elected to bat.
West Indies got an early blow with Matthews getting into the act straight away and dismissing Irish opener Gaby Lewis for a golden duck in just the second over of the game. After losing her opening partner early, Amy Hunter (44 off 35) and Orla Prendergast (40 off 49) stabilised the innings with a 66-run stand off 61 balls. However, their partnership came to an end due with Hunter’s run-out in the 12th over.
Following that, the entire Irish batting fell like a house of cards as they could only manage 116/9. Matthews did most of the damage as she claimed a hat-trick in the 18th over of the innings, dismissing Rebecca Stokell, Arlene Kelly and Ava Canning off consecutive deliveries for a duck.
The Windies skipper finished her spell with figures of 4/14 while Cherry Ann Fraser (2/19, 3 overs), Afy Fletcher (1/22) and Ashmini Munisar (1/23) were also among the wickets.
In reply, West Indies also lost their opener Djenaba Joseph (2 off 4) early in the second over. However, Matthews (48 off 34) and Aaliyah Alleyne (49* off 51) made sure there were no more hiccups in the chase with their 80-run stand off 61 balls for the second wicket. As a result, West Indies chased down the target in 18.1 overs and won the match by eight wickets, completing a 3-0 whitewash.
Matthews was awarded Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Series for her all-round show across three games as she scored 138 runs and picked 8 wickets.
MATCH SUMMARY
West Indies Women v Ireland Women, 3rd T20I, St Lucia, 8 July 2023
Ireland 116-9 (20 overs: A Hunter 44 (35), O Prendergast 40 (49); H Matthews 4/14)
West Indies 120-2 (18.1 overs: H Matthews 48 (34), A Alleyne 49* (51); G Dempsey 1/21)
West Indies won by 8 wickets
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