In a heart-stopping end on the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, West Indies Girls’s captain Hayley Matthews as soon as once more rose to the event, delivering a clutch efficiency to safe a nail-biting six-run win over Eire of their ICC Girls’s World Cup Qualifier.
With the match hanging by a thread and simply eight runs required off the ultimate over, Matthews eliminated Arlene Kelly together with her second supply—triggering euphoric celebrations because the Caribbean facet saved their World Cup hopes alive.
This dramatic climax capped a sport that had already seen momentum swing wildly between the 2 groups, in a contest shortened to 33 overs per facet as a result of persistent rain delays.
A rocky begin, then a rescue mission
Despatched in to bat below overcast skies, the West Indies Girls discovered themselves below early stress. Their linchpin Hayley Matthews fell for a brisk 23, and fellow opener Qiana Joseph was dismissed cheaply for 4, leaving the Windies teetering at 29 for 2 in simply the sixth over.
However calm quickly adopted the chaos.
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Stafanie Taylor and Zaida James mixed poise and persistence to assemble a important 81-run partnership for the third wicket, steadying the innings and guiding their facet to 116 for 3.
Simply when the West Indies appeared poised to speed up, Eire’s Jane Maguire turned the tide. She struck twice within the twenty fourth over, eradicating Taylor for a well-crafted 46 after which castling James for 36 a ball later, decreasing the Windies to 117 for 4.
Henry’s late surge anchors West Indies
Amid the stress, Chinelle Henry stood tall. Displaying each grit and intent, she unleashed a counterattack with an unbeaten 46 off simply 36 deliveries, embellished with two boundaries and a towering six. Her late flourish propelled the West Indies to a aggressive 181 for six, giving their bowlers one thing to defend.
Maguire led Eire’s bowling efforts with figures of three for 35 from her seven overs, showcasing composure and consistency.
Eire’s spirited chase fizzles below stress
Eire’s reply was sharp and filled with intent. Openers Amy Hunter and captain Gaby Lewis laid a strong basis with a 57-run partnership inside 10 overs, threatening to overtake the goal with time to spare.
However Matthews, together with her golden arm, broke by. She bowled Lewis for 17 after which dismissed Orla Prendergast for a single with a pointy return catch. The collapse was on.
Afy Fletcher added her title to the wicket column by bowling Hunter for a top-score of 48. When Karishma Ramharack eliminated Leah Paul for one, Eire had been immediately reeling at 80 for 4.
Although Laura Delany and Christina Coulter-Reilly mounted resistance with a 42-run partnership, the West Indies bowlers maintained relentless stress. Aaliyah Alleyne dismissed Delany, and Ramharack quickly despatched Louise Little packing, leaving Eire at 133 for six.
The pendulum had totally swung.
Three extra wickets fell in fast succession, together with Coulter-Reilly for a valiant 34, and Eire slumped to 156 for 9 with 26 runs nonetheless wanted from the ultimate 24 balls.
A ultimate stand, then a fall
Kelly and Murray clawed Eire agonizingly near what would have been a surprising victory. However with nerves tightening and the equation narrowing, Matthews took middle stage as soon as extra. Her decisive strike to take away Kelly within the ultimate over dashed Irish hopes, securing a valuable win for the West Indies.
The skipper’s all-round brilliance was mirrored in her bowling figures — 4 for twenty-four — whereas Ramharack (2 for 27) and Alleyne (2 for 33) supplied helpful assist in a fiercely contested battle.
This win not solely rejuvenated West Indies’ qualifying marketing campaign but in addition reminded the cricketing world of their preventing spirit and Matthews’ indomitable will.
