Matthews Guides West Indies to Six-Wicket Triumph with Century

In a decisive match in St. George’s, Hayley Matthews led the West Indies to a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, celebrating her tenth One Day International (ODI) century. This triumph marked the West Indies’ first points in the new Women’s Championship cycle.

Match Overview

Sri Lanka set a target of 218 runs, scoring 217 for 7 in their innings. Harshitha Samarawickrama stood out for the visitors with a notable score of 70 runs. In response, West Indies achieved their goal, finishing at 218 for 4.

Key Performers

• Hayley Matthews: Scored 100 runs off 118 balls, also took 2 wickets for 33 runs.
• Stafanie Taylor: Contributed 38 runs and moved up the all-time ODI run-scorers list.
• Chinelle Henry: Remained not out with 32 runs, supporting the chase effectively.
• Harshitha Samarawickrama: Top-scored for Sri Lanka with 70 runs from 112 balls.
• Malki Madara: Took 2 wickets for 33 runs, dismissing key early batsmen for the West Indies.

Match Details

The game began with an early blow for the West Indies as they lost two wickets cheaply, standing at 12 for 2. Matthews took a cautious approach initially, needing 12 balls to hit her first boundary. However, once settled, she formed a crucial partnership of 124 runs for the third wicket with Taylor.

Matthews secured her fifty in 48 balls, although the batting pace slowed later. She narrowly avoided dismissal at 70 when a catch was dropped. After reaching her century, she was caught at deep midwicket. The match concluded with a 49-run partnership between Deandra Dottin and Henry, ensuring victory for the West Indies.

Sri Lanka’s Struggles

Sri Lanka’s innings saw them struggle to maintain the required run rate towards the end. Following Matthews’ early dismissal of Chamari Athapaththu, their innings found some stability through Samarawickrama and a partnership with Vishmi Gunaratne. However, the West Indies bowlers, including Karishma Ramharack, made inroads into the Sri Lankan batting order, ultimately defeating the visitors convincingly.

This match exemplified Matthews’ prowess both as a batsman and bowler, confirming her vital role in the team’s campaign ahead.