Matthews stars with first T20I ton

DUBLIN – Hayley Matthews’ maiden Twenty20 International hundred yesterday lifted West Indies Women to their second highest total in the shortest format, paving the way for a 72-run crushing of Ireland Women and a clean sweep of the three-match series here.

Sent in at Sydney Parade, West Indies amassed 188 for one off their 20 overs, with Matthews stroking an unbeaten 107 off 62 deliveries.

She struck seven fours and nine sixes to dominate the Irish bowling in an unbroken 162-run, second-wicket stand with Chedean Nation, who made an unbeaten 63 off 46 balls.

Never challenged

The total was just short of the West Indies Women’s all-time best of 191 recorded nine years ago against the Netherlands in Potchefstroom.

Ireland, in reply, never challenged the difficult target and finished on 116 for three off their 20 overs, despite an unbeaten 55 from opener Mary Waldron.

Captain Kim Garth followed up her half-century in Tuesday’s second game with a knock of 45, sharing a 94-run, second-wicket stand with Waldron.

It was the 21-year-old Matthews, however, who took centre stage. She overcame the loss of opening partner Britney Cooper for ten in the fifth over to set about the Irish bowling with relish.

She reached her halfcentury off 41 deliveries with the first of three successive sixes off leg-spinner Celeste Raack in the 15th over, which went for 22 runs.

Matthews brought up her hundred, off 59 deliveries, at the start of the final over by lifting seamer Lara Maritz to the wide long on boundary.

Landmark

Nation, meanwhile, produced a career-best performance with her second T20I half-century, following up her maiden one against Pakistan in Karachi last January.

She raised her landmark in the 17th over off just 37 balls en route to counting six fours and two sixes.

The target was always out of Ireland’s reach but they ensured there was no embarrassment by batting out the overs.

Left-armer Stacy-Ann King claimed Gaby Lewis cheaply for eight in the fourth over with 17 runs on the board but Waldron and Garth then defied the West Indies attack.

Waldron faced 62 balls and struck four boundaries, while Garth hit five fours off 46 deliveries before falling to the first ball of the final over, caught at long-off off Stafanie Taylor’s off-spin. (CMC)

HAYLEY MATTHEWS set up victory for the West Indies Women

with an attractive century. (GP)