Cape Town – Captain Hayley Matthews nervelessly drilled the penultimate ball of the game to the extra cover boundary as West Indies edged Ireland by six wickets in a thriller here Friday to post their first win of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup and break their dreadful run of 15 successive defeats.
Entering the final over requiring six runs for victory in pursuit of a tricky 138 at Newlands, West Indies survived a couple of nerve-racking moments before Matthews lifted them over the line with an unbeaten 66 off 53 deliveries – equalling her previous career-best.
The Caribbean side scrambled singles off the first two deliveries before drama unfolded when Shabika Gajnabi was run out for 13 at the striker’s end, attempting an impossible second run after driving to long on.
Off the next ball, new batter Aaliyah Alleyne survived a strong lbw shout only courtesy of umpire’s call, after Ireland desperately resorted to DRS, but the resulting leg bye put Matthews back on strike.
The 24-year-old, in her 81st T20 International, then deposited a half-volley from seamer Laura Delaney over cover, sparking celebrations in her side’s camp over their first T20 victory in 18 weeks. (CMC)
