KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — Despite conceding the Twenty20 International (T20I) series to Australia Women after suffering a 17-run defeat on Saturday, West Indies Women’s skipper Hayley Matthews says she was pleased with the fightback shown by her side in the second match.

Australia got off to a speedy start, with openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney smashing 54 runs off the Powerplay which put them in position to post a formidable total at Arnos Vale Ground.

However, the home side was able to pull back the game at the death to limit them to 164 for five in their 20 overs.

Matthews then broke out of her batting slump by scoring an impressive half-century while Deandra Dottin, who hit an unbeaten 39 off 28 balls, and Stafanie Taylor, who made 22, kept the Windies in the hunt for victory.

The captain and Taylor shared a 77-run partnership for the second wicket, which carried them to a strong position of 90 for one at one stage.

Speaking in a post-match press conference, Matthews said there had been improvements from the opening game, which they lost by 43 runs.

“One thing that we really wanted to focus on was putting together some partnerships and having two batters at the crease for a longer period of time — and it was really good to see that we had a few of them today.

“Different people put their hands up — Stafanie in the middle, myself and Deandra coming at the end and looking really, really good too,” Matthews said.

“It certainly was a really good fightback from us, I think, in the bowling innings, as well [as] when you talk about mentally. So, going on to the next game now we just have to put it all together.”

Matthews, however, admitted that the team missed the services of the hard-hitting Chinelle Henry in their innings, who was unable to bat after picking up an injury in the field.

“…We obviously missed Chinelle Henry today — who is one of the premier batters in the world — out of our line-up after she got injured.

“You never know, her coming in to bat today definitely could have meant a different result too, so it was unfortunate not to have her,” Matthews said.

SCOREBOARD

Australia Women

Georgia Voll c Glasgow b Ramharack 39

+Beth Mooney b Fletcher 17

Phoebe Litchfield c Alleyne b Matthews 35

Ellyse Perry c Dottin b Claxton 42

Georgia Wareham c Glasgow b Dottin 11

Tahlia McGrath not out 5

Nicola Carey not out 9

Extras (lb2, w4) 6

Total (five wickets; 20 overs) 164

Did not bat: *Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Darcie Brown.

Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-71, 3-129, 4-147, 5-154.

Bowling: Dottin 4-0-30-1, Henry 2-0-13-0, Claxton 3-0-24-1, Matthews 4-0-33-1, Ramharack 2-0-21-1, Fletcher 4-0-32-1, Alleyne 1-0-9-0.

West Indies Women

Qiana Joseph run out 11

*Hayley Matthews c Molineux b King 56

Stafanie Taylor st+ Mooney b King 22

Deandra Dottin not out 39

+Shemaine Campbelle c Carey b Wareham 6

Jahzara Claxton not out 5

Extras (b1, lb3, w4) 8

Total (four wickets; 20 overs) 147

Did not bat: Chinelle Henry, Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-90, 3-104, 4-113.

Bowling: Carey 3-0-28-0, Garth 4-1-20-0, King 4-0-25-2, Brown 3-0-27-0, McGrath 3-0-27-0, Wareham 3-0-16-1.

Toss: Australia Women chose to bat.

Result: Australia Women won by 17 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Player-of-the-Match: Alana King.

Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Maria Abbott.

TV Umpire: Jacqueline Williams.

Reserve Umpire: Candace la Borde.

Match Referee: Reon King.