West Indies women team’s all-rounder, Hayley Matthews, is looking to transfer her red-hot form from The Hundred Women’s competition into the ongoing series against South Africa Women.
Matthews, during a press conference yesterday ahead of today’s second WT20I expressed her delight at being afforded the opportunity to play in the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think obviously playing cricket 24/7 you know playing in those franchise tournaments are always helpful. Obviously we came off a Pakistan series and to be able to go to The Hundred and gain a bit more experience and get some cricket under my belt in an uncertain time like this has been pretty good and hopefully I could take some of this momentum and couple of the good performances in that tournament and bring that into this series,” she stated.
Matthews, who ranks seventh in the ICC T20 Women’s all-rounder ratings, ended the English competition as the fifth highest run getter with 221 runs and a best of 71 not out. In her eight matches she also picked up 11 wickets to cap off an exceptional all-round performance for Welsh Fire Women.
The 23-year-old’s form is much needed in the absence of regular captain, Stafanie Taylor and the uncertainty of Deandra Dottin who limped off the field in the opening match of the series Tuesday.
However, she was confident the squad has a lot of match winners who are capable of taking centre stage.
“They are obviously two important players to us but we have a full squad of capable players who are able to get the job done, myself included and I trust each and every one of them just as much as I would trust Deandra and Stef [Taylor] to get the job done. It is a full team sport and I support each and every player and have full faith in each and every one,” she stated.
In Taylor’s absence, Anisa Mohammed has assumed the role of captain and Matthews revealed that the dressing room has responded well to the stand in leadership.
She revealed, “It’s been good. Obviously we had both Stef and Anisa around for quite a long time playing with the team and I think everybody is quite happy with them.
Obviously with the absence of Stafanie, Anisa has had to come and fill in the role and I think everyone has full faith and trust in her the same way.
We know she has been playing for a very long time and she is a very experienced player and she has a lot of good leadership qualities.”
West Indies Women will want to take the early lead and put themselves in a position that they cannot lose the series following the abandonment of the first match. In that match, South Africa Women posted 153 for three while West Indies Women were 21 for one after 2.5 overs before rain stopped the contest.
The second WT20I will begin at 14.00 hours today at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium, Antigua.
