Hayley Matthews brilliance ends WI shedding streak
Captain Hayley Matthews was nerveless as she drilled the penultimate ball of the sport to the additional cowl boundary as West Indies edged Eire by six wickets in a thriller right here Friday, to put up their first win of the Ladies’s Twenty20 World Cup and break their dreadful run of 15 successive defeats.
Getting into the ultimate over requiring six runs for victory in pursuit of a tough 138 at Newlands, West Indies survived a few nerve-racking moments earlier than Matthews lifted them over the road with an unbeaten 66 off 53 deliveries – equaling her earlier career-best.
The Caribbean facet scrambled singles off the primary two deliveries earlier than drama unfolded when Shabika Gajnabi was run out for 13 on the striker’s finish, trying an unimaginable second run after driving to lengthy on.
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Off the subsequent ball, new batsman Aaliyah Alleyne survived a robust lbw shout solely courtesy of umpire’s name, after Eire desperately resorted to DRS, however the ensuing leg bye put Matthews again on strike. The 24-year-old, in her 81st T20 Worldwide, then deposited a half-volley from seamer Laura Delaney over cowl, sparking celebrations in her facet’s camp over their first T20 victory in 18 weeks.
“There was undoubtedly quite a lot of strain. We knew it was a rating that we wanted somebody to bat by the innings actually deep with a view to get,” Matthews stated afterwards. “Kudos to the Irish women, they bowled rather well and bowled in some actually good areas, however I believe it was a whole group effort … I’m actually pleased with the ladies within the group.”
She added: “We might’ve misplaced quite a lot of video games in a row, and I believe to have the ability to go and get that first win on the board, not just for the World Cup however for a protracted stretch now, was actually, actually good.”
Eire gathered 137 for 9 from their 20 overs after selecting to bat first, the innings underpinned by Orla Prendergast’s good 61 from 47 balls.
The 20-year-old punched half-dozen fours and a six, inspiring a 90-run, second wicket stand with opener Gaby Lewis (38) to tug the innings round from the frustration of shedding Amy Hunter (1) with a single run on the board at first of the second over.
When Prendergast mishit a full toss from quick bowler Shamilia Connell (3-24) to cowl within the thirteenth over, Lewis added an extra 25 for the third wicket with Eimear Richardson (15) earlier than following within the sixteenth over, after hitting half-dozen fours.
Her dismissal, nevertheless, lbw lacking a sweep at off-spinner Karishma Ramharack (2-18), triggered a slide that noticed the subsequent seven wickets tumble for 21 runs.
In reply, Matthews placed on 28 for the primary wicket with Rashada Williams (17) however West Indies have been set again when each Williams and Shemaine Campbelle (8) perished within the house of 17 balls to go away the run chase stumbling on 46 for 2 within the ninth over.
Matthews swiftly took cost, counting eight fours and a six whereas discovering an ally in Chinelle Henry, who lashed 4 fours in a 28-ball knock, the pair including a crucial 74 for the third wicket.
When Henry gently drove left-arm spinner Leah Paul to cowl within the 18th over, her dismissal injected additional drama into the competition however Matthews steadied the chase when it mattered.
-CMC