Clean Sweep

Hayley Matthews’ heroic efforts could not stop West Indies Women from being defeated by 17 runs in the third and final T20I against England at the Essex County Cricket Ground in England.

The 27-year-old all-rounder bagged three wickets as England Women were restricted to 144 for 5 from their 20 overs after being sent into bat.

Matthews then returned with the bat to score 71 runs but got little assistance from her teammates, and West Indies Women were only able to muster 127 for 8 off their 20 overs.

Although England won the three-match series, Matthews’ performance earned her the Player-of-the-Match and Player-of-the-Series awards. She finished with 177 runs and three wickets.

West Indies Women got off to a good start when Zaida James bowled England opening batter Dani Wyatt-Hodge with the first ball of the innings.

Matthews then had Sophia Dunkley caught behind for three to leave England at 21 for two in the fifth over.

West Indies’ bowlers kept England’s batters in check as they crept to 59 for two after 10 overs. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a difficult 37 off 40 balls before she became Matthews’ second wicket.

Heather Knight then came to the crease to rescue England, blasting an unbeaten 66 off 47 balls, including seven fours and one six, as the home team struck 85 runs from the last 10 overs.

Matthews ended with 3-32 from her four overs, while debutant Jahzara Claxton took 1-15 in her 4 overs.

In reply, West Indies Women suffered a horrible start, with Qiana Joseph losing her stumps to Lauren Bell’s first delivery of the innings. Matthews then added 31 with James, who struggled, making only seven runs, before Em Arlott dismissed her.

New batter Realeanna Grimmond was lucky during her knock of 15 from 16 balls, being dropped off 3 consecutive balls.

First, Sciver-Brunt dropped a simple catch off spinner Charlie Dean. The next ball, Dean dropped a difficult caught-and-bowled opportunity, and then wicketkeeper Amy Jones failed to hold on to an outside edge.

However, the next ball she faced, she lost her wicket, caught by Wyatt-Hodge, as West Indies slipped to 63 for 3 after 11 overs.

Matthews continued scoring, bringing up her 17th T201 half-century off 41 balls. In the 15th over, West Indies moved to 96 for 3.

After a 10-minute break following a brief shower, Shabika Gajnabi launched the first ball bowled by Linsey Smith for 6.

However, Smith struck two crucial blows three balls later, dismissing Gajnabi and Claxton to leave West Indies 109 for 5. Four runs later, Matthews was caught by Arlott off Bell. She faced 54 balls and struck 11 fours and 1 six.

Four English bowlers took two wickets apiece, with Bell (2-11), Linsey Smith (2-25), Arlott (2-26), and Dean (2-31).