CAPE TOWN: Hayley Matthews’s majestic captain’s innings guided the West Indies to a nerve-jangling ICC Ladies’s T20 World Cup win in opposition to Eire in Cape City on Friday evening. The Windies skipper struck a decisive 66 not out and, assisted by Chinelle Henry’s crucial contribution, helped haul her facet to a six-wicket victory and inflict a troublesome defeat on the Irish beneath the lights. Orla Prendergast’s spectacular 61 had fired Eire to a aggressive complete of 137 for 9 as Shamilia Connell starred with the ball for the Windies. However Matthews and Henry (34) delivered a second innings masterclass to patiently chase down the goal and assist the West Indies, with out Stafanie Taylor owing to a again harm, bounce again from defeats in opposition to India and England with only a single ball remaining in Group B.
Laura Delany gained the toss and elected to bat – however her facet suffered an nearly fast blow when Amy Hunter was dismissed within the second over. Trishan Holder held a easy catch after the Irish opener had miscued and top-edged a Connell supply. However Prendergast and Gaby Lewis set about constructing the foundations for a restoration, placing on 90 for the second wicket earlier than Prendergast went for a swashbuckling 61 – off simply 47 balls – within the thirteenth over. And the West Indies then struck twice in fast succession as Lewis (38) and Louise Little, who was unable to bother the scorers, had been eliminated within the house of three Karishma Ramharack deliveries. Delany and Arlene Kelly then went in equally speedy trend as Afy Fletcher’s leg breaks helped derail the top of the Irish innings. Eimear Richardson was caught and bowled by Matthews earlier than Leah Paul and wicketkeeper Mary Waldron had been faraway from the ultimate two balls of the innings.
That left the Windies with a complete of 138 to win as openers Matthews and Rashada Williams responded with a gentle begin all through the opening overs. However Eire grabbed the breakthrough from the penultimate ball of the powerplay when wicketkeeper Williams was runout after a sudden mix-up along with her captain. Incoming batter Campbelle survived a assessment shortly after however was quickly dismissed by Delany when the Irish skipper’s artful medium pacers trapped her in entrance for simply eight. Matthews and Henry continued to chip away on the complete, nevertheless, teeing up a tantalising last 5 overs with a composed third wicket partnership.
Kelly dropped Henry at mid-off throughout an economical-looking sixteenth over earlier than the Windies No.4 made her pay with a much-needed boundary off the ultimate supply. Henry regarded within the temper to complete the job as rapidly as doable however she was quickly dismissed by Paul as Eire, who spilt a number of probabilities all through a frenetic second innings, lastly held on to a catch. That propelled Shabika Gajnabi into the warmth of the Cape City cauldron, who performed an essential transient cameo earlier than being run out after one other piece of confusion with Matthews. However the Windies skipper held her nerve to clatter Delany over the covers for 4 and hearth her facet to victory.
Temporary scores:
West Indies beat Eire at Newlands Cricket Floor, Cape City by six wickets
Eire 137 for 9 in 20 overs (Orla Prendergast 61, Gaby Lewis 38; Shamilia Connell 3/24, Karishma Ramharack 2/18) vs West Indies 140 for 4 in 19.5 overs (Hayley Matthews 66 not out, Chinelle Henry 34; Leah Paul 1/26, Laura Delany 1/30)
Participant of the Match: Hayley Matthews (West Indies).