SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Captain Hayley Matthews agonizingly missed out on 100 as West Indies Ladies have been swept apart by eight wickets within the opening Twenty20 Worldwide in opposition to Australia Ladies right here Sunday.
The appropriate-hander was left stranded on 99, a Participant-of-the-Match knock that propelled the guests to 147 for 3 from their 20 overs after they have been despatched in at North Sydney Oval.
Tahlia McGrath (60 not out) and captain Alyssa Healy (56) then carved out half-centuries as Australia girls overhauled their goal in a canter to take a 1-0 lead within the three-match collection.
It was Matthews who shone brightly regardless of her aspect’s defeat. The 25-year-old opener, who assumed the captaincy final 12 months, struck a dozen fours and 4 sixes to publish the highest-ever rating by a West Indian lady in opposition to the Aussies.
She placed on 68 for the second wicket with former captain Stafanie Taylor (10) and 56 for the third wicket with vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle (19).
Matthews dominated on each side of the wicket in an outstanding innings, which noticed her attain her second half-century in opposition to Australia off 36 balls within the tenth over.
Nonetheless, together with her second T20 Worldwide hundred in sight, she lifted off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner to long-on off the fourth ball of the ultimate over. She opted for the only, solely to observe as Campbell was stumped off the very subsequent supply.
“[It was a] magnificent innings. She deserved the hundred,” stated newly appointed head coach, Australian Shane Deitz.
“It’s among the finest innings I’ve seen for a very long time. She’s been sensible across the group as a frontrunner, batter, and bowler.”
In reply, Australia Ladies made mild work of the run chase, McGrath anchoring the innings in a strong 32-ball knock which included eight fours and three sixes.
When Beth Mooney (11) picked out Taylor at mid-off within the third over off seamer Chinelle Henry with the rating on 22, McGrath arrived to first publish 85 for the second wicket with Healy earlier than including an extra 42 in an unbroken third wicket partnership with Gardner (13 not out).
Healy, that includes in her 250th worldwide, counted seven fours and three sixes off 23 deliveries. Dropped on 27 within the seventh over – one in every of three missed probabilities for West Indies Ladies – she ultimately departed within the tenth, holing out to long-off off Matthews.
“I feel we have been a bit brief because the wicket began enjoying higher within the second half,” Deitz stated.
“It was a reasonably good whole, and perhaps issues might have been completely different if we had taken our probabilities whereas fielding.”
The second T20 Worldwide bowls off Monday on the similar venue.
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