BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – West Indies Girls’s skipper Hayley Matthews as soon as once more rose to the event, crafting a composed and unbeaten 63 to steer her aspect to a tense six-wicket victory over South Africa Girls within the second T20 Worldwide on the 3W’s Oval on Sunday.
With the sequence now tied 1-1, all eyes flip to Monday’s high-stakes decider.
It was a real captain’s knock—measured, resilient, and finally match-winning—as Matthews struck 5 boundaries and a six in her 56-ball innings. Supported by an unbroken 39-run partnership with Jannillea Glasgow, Matthews guided the house aspect to 116 for 4, efficiently chasing South Africa’s 113 for six with simply 4 deliveries to spare.
Disciplined bowling and good fielding prohibit South Africa
Despatched in to bat first, South Africa made a gentle begin via openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, who compiled a 30-run stand within the opening 5 overs. However their momentum stalled after Wolvaardt fell to younger pacer Jahzara Claxton for a run-a-ball 16.
From that time, West Indies seized management with the ball and within the discipline. Spin duo Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack sparked a collapse that noticed South Africa tumble to 71 for 5 by the 14th over. Fletcher, extracting flip and bounce, struck twice to take away each Brits and Nadine de Klerk, whereas Ramharack accounted for Miane Smith and Chloe Tryon with precision bowling.
Solely Annerie Derksen (21 not out off 17) and Karabo Meso (14 not out off 19) confirmed resistance, guiding South Africa past the 100-run mark with a resilient 34-run stand for the seventh wicket. Fletcher completed with an outstanding spell of 2-13 from 4 overs, and Ramharack chipped in with 2-25, backed by sharp fielding all through the innings.
Early setbacks in chase, however Matthews stands tall
Chasing a modest goal of 114, West Indies started confidently with a 41-run opening stand between Matthews and Qiana Joseph. Nonetheless, South Africa clawed again with a flurry of fast wickets.
Joseph departed for 17, caught off the bowling of Ayabonga Khaka, earlier than debutant Shawnisha Hector (3) and Shemaine Campbelle (7) fell in fast succession, leaving the hosts wobbling at 70 for 3. When Chinelle Henry was trapped leg-before by Nonkululeko Mlaba for simply three, South Africa scented an unlikely comeback.
However Matthews remained unshaken.
Nerves of metal within the ultimate overs
With the match hanging within the stability, Matthews discovered a cool-headed companion in Jannillea Glasgow. Collectively, they stitched collectively an important 39-run stand, slowly dismantling the South African resistance. Matthews introduced up her 18th T20I half-century with a single within the 18th over, calmly marking a milestone in a pressure-filled chase.
Requiring 16 runs from the ultimate two overs, Matthews went on the offensive. She struck Masabata Klaas for a six and a 4 within the penultimate over, lowering the goal to simply three runs from six deliveries. Glasgow then sealed the win with authority, pulling Nadine de Klerk’s second ball of the ultimate over to the boundary.
Matthews’ innings, marked by poise and tactical acumen, rightfully earned her the Participant of the Match award.
With the three-match sequence now squared at 1-1, momentum is firmly with the West Indies Girls heading into Monday’s decisive encounter. If Matthews and her aspect can reproduce the composure and self-discipline proven on Sunday, a memorable sequence victory could possibly be only one extra impressed efficiency away.
