WI-W vs SA-W | Hayley Matthews’ all-round show powers West Indies Women to series win in T20 leg

Brief score: SA-W 147/6 (20) [Miane Smit 59*(38), Laura Wolvaardt 28(24); Karishma Ramharack 2/18(4)] lost to WI-W 148/4 (18.3) [Hayley Matthews 65(50), Shemaine Campbelle 42(38); Marizanne Kapp 2/27(4)] by six wickets.

Hayley Matthews played an all-round role in the third and final T20I as West Indies Women beat South Africa Women by six wickets in Barbados on Tuesday. Matthews anchored the chase with a stroke-filled half-century after picking up 1/26 with the ball as the hosts pocketed the three-match series 2-1.

Opting to bat first at the Three Ws Oval in Cave Hill, South Africa got off to a decent start as openers Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus added 29 runs before the latter was dismissed by Karishma Ramharack in the fourth over. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt (28 off 24) and Brits ensured that the visitors did not lose another wicket in the powerplay to end at 40/1 after six overs. But the Proteas lost their way during the middle phase as they slipped from 57/1 to 92/5 in a gap of six overs. But Miane Smit’s unbeaten half-century helped the visitors to a respectable score. Smit hit seven fours and a six in her 38-ball 59 as the Proteas finished at 147/6 at the end of 20 overs. Leg spinner Karishma Ramharack was the pick among the West Indies bowlers with an impressive spell of 2/18 while her fellow leggie Afy Fletcher also picked up two wickets.

In reply, the home side was reduced to 32/2 in the sixth over before skipper Hayley Matthews came up with an important knock to rebuild their innings. Along with her deputy Shemaine Campbelle, who scored 42 off 38 balls, Matthews added 82 runs in 61 balls for the third wicket to take the Windies closer to the target. Her innings was studded with nine fours and a six and ended at 65 off 50 balls with the side needing 34 runs in 28 balls. All-rounder Chinelle Henry’s unbeaten cameo of 20 in 11 balls, which included two sixes and a four, powered the side home by six wickets with nine balls to spare.

With that win, the Windies completed an excellent comeback to win two consecutive matches after losing the opening match of the T20 series. Skipper Matthews was adjudged the Player of the Match for her all-round role and she also finished as the Player of the Series for her tally of 147 runs and two wickets.