In the decider of the T20 series at Chelmsford, Hayley Matthews put on a One Day International level performance. Unluckily for her, her efforts weren’t enough, and the West Indies lost the match before they could confirm a win. Matthews starred with both bat and ball, scoring 71 runs and taking 3 wickets. Even with this stellar showing, her team would end the series without a single win.
The game played out on the most idyllic fall day imaginable. England provided a thrilling target score of 145 runs, posting a total of 144 for 5 wickets. That left Matthews as the undisputed player of the game for the West Indies. He stepped up as their ringleader in their efforts to exceed the goal. Her innings featured powerful strokes, with 11 fours and a six, and highlighted her aggressive batting style and sweeping of spinners. Matthews brought up her half-century from just 38 balls, her first international T20 half-century on home soil.
Matthews’ team couldn’t overcome the odds of losing. She was eventually bowled by Lauren Bell in the 18th over having hit 71 off just 54 deliveries. Though the West Indies battled, they just didn’t have enough in the end. They weren’t able to claim a consolation victory from a difficult three match series against a dominant England side.
Matthews made it impossible to doubt her value all series long. In the first women’s T20 match at Canterbury, she scored 43 not out. Well, she never had the opportunity to hit in that second game. In the three games, she amassed a staggering 177 runs. She set a T20I record, as the first player in women’s T20 internationals to score 70 or more runs and take 3 or more wickets—even in defeat.
Matthews looked at her performance post-game, stating she was happy with what she was able to contribute, even if it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
“It was really good to be able to go out there and score some runs and take some wickets. It was definitely a closer game today and one we felt like we competed in. We’d have loved to get over the line.” – Hayley Matthews
She further praised the work put in by her teammates, especially those younger players who really made their mark in this installment of the squad.
“I’m really happy and super proud of the younger players who have come in.” – Hayley Matthews
For England’s captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, this was the culmination of an impressive series for her side. She freed them from the burden of still needing to reach perfection in that last game. They raised the bar to such lofty heights with their past titles.
“We played some brilliant cricket over this T20 series. We didn’t have the perfect game today but we set the standards very high in the first two games of the series.” – Nat Sciver-Brunt
The game ended, fittingly, with England celebrating their 3-0 series clean sweep. The West Indies must now turn their focus to frustration and fond recollections of what’s been offered, as they regroup in preparation for matches to come. Plus, Matthews’ personal honors provided a source of pride for her squad during a rough stretch in the best-of-three series.
Leave a Reply