Matthews misses hundred in Barbados win
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Captain Hayley Matthews perished agonisingly short of a century as Barbados rebounded from their T20 Blaze disappointment with a crushing 149-run victory over Windward Islands in their opening match of the Women’s Super50 Cup.
Opting to bat first here Thursday, Barbados piled up 227 for two off their 50 overs with Matthews dismissed for 99 off 133 deliveries.
Her left-handed opening partner Kycia Knight made 72 from 108 balls while Kyshona Knight chipped in with 27 not out.
In reply, the Windwards folded for a meagre 78 in the 24th over, the innings destroyed by new-ball pacers Shania Bruce (4-48) and Shamilia Connell (3-9), with first-change seamer Aaliyah Alleyne supporting with two for 14.
Uncapped Japhina Joseph top-scored with 18 while the 40-year-old Pearl Etienne, who played the last of her eight one-dayers and 13 T20 Internationals a decade ago, chimed in with 16 batting at number 11.
Once Matthews and Kycia Knight combined in an opening stand of 177 to dominate the first half of the contest at Guyana National Stadium there was little hope of a Windwards comeback.
Matthews struck eight fours, reaching her half-century off 71 deliveries at the start of the 23rd over, while Kycia Knight followed with her own landmark in the 29th over with a four to third man.
The 24-year-old Matthews appeared set for three figures when she missed a full-length delivery from pacer Etienne at the start of the 44th over and was adjudged lbw.
Windwards endured a nightmare start to their run chase, slumping to nine for six in the eighth over as Connell and Bruce shared the spoils in a devastating opening burst.
Joseph and Jannillea Glasgow (11) stemmed the flow of wickets in a 32-run, seventh-wicket stand but once Glasgow edged a drive behind off Bruce, Windwards lost three wickets for 13 runs in quick time.
Etienne and Glendeen Turtin (10 not out) only delayed the inevitable in a 24-run, last-wicket partnership.