The West Indies Women will head into their first match of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Women’s World T20 with confidence after flattening New Zealand last night at the Providence Stadium, the same venue at which they will play their opening contest against Bangladesh.
Last night, New Zealand made 122-9 from their 20 overs with Anisa Mohammed taking four wickets. In reply, West Indies raced to 123-4 in 18.1 overs with Hayley Matthews powering the chase with a half century.
West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl, immediately finding success as Shakera Selman, after being struck for a boundary two balls earlier by Anna Peterson, induced an edge from number one ranked Women’s T20 batter, Suzie Bates to Kaycia Knight behind the stumps for just one.
Peterson looked aggressive, hitting Shamilia Connell for a boundary in her first delivery of the match but was undone in Connell’s second over for 12.
New Zealand notched up their team fifty with Sophie Divine hitting Deandra Dottin for a boundary down the ground to end the eighth over.
Divine and Amy Satterthwaite were looking good, sharing a 39-run partnership until off break bowler, Mohammed was brought into the attack and Divine decided to shuffle down the pitch to a wide delivery only to be stumped for 18.
Mohammed continued her destruction, claiming three more wickets, including unearthing the stumps of Satterthwaite who scored 28 and Katey Martin in the 13th over.
Maddy Green was the only batter to trouble the West Indies bowling, remaining not out on 35 from 26 balls including a quartet of boundaries.
Mohammed ended with 4-22 while Afy Fletcher was accurate in her return spell to pick up 2-33.
West Indies began the chase in sensational fashion as 20-year-old Matthews cut Peterson for two boundaries in the first over.
Dottin would better Matthews’ first over, this time taking Divine down the ground followed by an innovative reverse sweep and a cracking cut shot, all resulting in boundaries. She finished the over with a reverse smack for six.
Matthews was also brutal to Hayley Jensen who was struck for consecutive boundaries as well as a four and six off of Jess Watkin to bring up the team’s half century in the fifth over.
The pair looked to ace the chase, running between the wickets well and dealing with boundaries but Dottin who struck six fours and a lone six was run out on a direct hit for 35 from 23 balls, ending the partnership of 68 from 45 balls.
Matthews carried on, bringing up her half century with a forceful cut for a single after muscling a boundary down the ground.
The entertaining innings came to an end with Matthews trying to run the ball down to fine leg only to be given leg before wicket on a low full toss to finish on 50 from 38 balls consisting of eight fours and one six.
Stefanie Taylor saw her side over the line with an unbeaten 26 from 36 deliveries.
