(CMC) – Vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle pinched a single off the final ball of the game to hand West Indies Women an unnecessarily nervous two-wicket victory over Ireland Women in the opening Twenty20 International yesterday. In pursuit of a modest 113 at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, the hosts looked in control at 74 for three in the 15th over until four wickets – including that of top-scorer Hayley Matthews for 37 – tumbled for 30 runs in the space of 24 deliveries.
West Indies Women entered the final over needing seven to win and lost Shamilia Connell (1) to the third delivery, to further complicate the task.
They rode their luck when leg-spinner Cara Murray sent down a wide off what should have been the final delivery, the extra levelling the scores before Campbell saw her side over the line.
Sent in earlier, Ireland Women mustered 112 for seven from their 20 overs, Captain Laura Delany leading with 34 from 36 balls and Eimear Richardson chipping in with 22 from 24 balls – the pair posting 31 for the fourth wicket.
Debutant 19-year-old off-spinner Ashmini Munisar, whose four overs cost only 16 runs, made the breakthrough when she removed Richardson in the 14th over and Matthews (3-22) helped to further restrict Ireland Women with key strikes. In reply, West Indies Women’s chase started badly when Rashada Williams was run out for two in the second over with only eight runs on the board but Player-of-the-Match Matthews, who struck two fours in a 42-ball knock, inspired a 32-run, second wicket partnership with Shabika Gajnabi (14) to stabilise the chase.
But seamer Arlene Kelly (3-21) hauled her side back into the contest when she struck some key blows, accounting for Gajnabi, and then for Matthews and Zaida James (0) off successive deliveries in the 15th over.
Afy Fletcher (19) and Campbelle added 25 for the sixth wicket to stall Ireland Women’s progress but the game still came down to a final-ball finish.