KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Teenaged West Indies batting star Hayley Matthews made her presence felt, stroking an unbeaten half-century to fire Barbados to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Jamaica in the second round of the Women’s Regional Super50 here yesterday.
Set a meagre 88 for victory at the Arnos Vale Stadium, Barbados romped home in the 24th over with the right-handed Matthews carving out a delighful 56 not out.
Kycia Knight fell cheaply for five in the fifth over with the score on 20 but the 19-year-old Matthews partnered with Reshelle Griffith (14) to add 40 for the second wicket and take Barbados to the brink of victory.
Matthews struck 10 fours in her 73-ball knock.
There was no such enterprise from West Indies Women’s skipper, Stafanie Taylor, who was dismissed without scoring as Jamaica, sent in, were bowled out for 87 off 34.1 overs. Her Windies teammate Chedean Nation top-scored with 17 but it was medium pacer Deandra Dottin who shone, ripping through the innings with a spell of four for 22.
Fast bowler Shakera Selman, who has also played for West Indies, claimed two for 17.
At Sion Hill, former Windies captain Merissa Aguilleira played a key role as Trinidad and Tobago bounced back from their first round loss to inflict a six-wicket defeat on Guyana.
The right-handed Aguilleira controlled the defending champions’ run chase with an unbeaten 30 as they overhauled a paltry target of 83. When T&T slumped to 41 for four in the 15th over, Aguilleira anchored a match-winning, unbroken fifth wicket stand of 43 with Felicia Walters (15 not out) to deny Guyana.
Aguilleira faced 50 deliveries and counted four boundaries. Caneisha Isaac had earlier taken four for 22 from eight overs to wreck Guyana for 83 all out off 42.4 overs.
She was supported by West Indies Women off-spinner Anisa Mohammed who collected three for 15.
In the other game ar Park Hill, Twenty20 World Cup star Afy Fletcher produced a solid all-rounder performance to help Windward Islands brush aside Leeward Islands by 75 runs. She struck 29 in the Windwards’ 179 all out off 41.1 overs and returned to take three for 23 as the Leewards were bowled out for 104 off 36.2 overs.
