Matthews’ ton sets up massive win for WI Women

BASSETERRE, St Kitts:

West Indies Women's captain Hayley Matthews once again led from the front with both bat and ball to propel her side to a crushing nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh Women in the first one-day international (ODI) at Warner Park in St Kitts yesterday.

The sensational captain captured two wickets with her offspin and then cracked a scintillating, unbeaten century to ensure the Windies took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Player-of-the-Match Matthews added 163 runs for the opening partnership with Qiana Joseph, who made 70, and they comfortably overhauled Bangladesh's total of 198 for nine, finishing on 202 for one off 31.4 overs.

The two openers started slowly, managing just eight runs from the first three overs, before Matthews unleashed her fury.

She hit spinner Sanjida Akter for four boundaries in the sixth over and followed it up by smashing Sultana Khatun for two fours in the eighth over.

Matthews continued her assault by smashing Marufa Akter for two more boundaries in the 11th over.

So dominant was the skipper, she got to her half century with just 67 runs on the board when she cut Nahida Akter behind square for another boundary.

Joseph soon joined in on the action, blasting Sanjida Akter for two huge sixes and eventually brought up her first ODI half century when she slapped Rabeya Khan down to long off for a single as the West Indies motored along to 129 without loss.

The pair carried the home side past the 150-mark and looked set on taking them to victory until Joseph failed in her attempt to hit Khan out of the ground and was caught on the boundary.

With the Windies requiring just three runs for victory, Matthews got to her eighth ODI century when she scampered a quick single after driving Khan to cover.

She then ended the contest in style by hitting Khan's next delivery to the boundary.

In all, Matthews faced 93 balls and hit 16 boundaries.

SOLID START

Earlier, Bangladesh Women failed to capitalise on a solid start from their top order.

Sharmin Akter scored 42 and opener Murshida Khatun made 40, and the visitors were cruising at 115 for two at one point.

However, once Matthews removed both batters in quick succession to reduce them to 123 for four, Bangladesh found runs hard to come by.

Sobhana Mostary (35) and Shorna Akter, who made 29, tried their best to up the tempo during a 54-run partnership, but once they were dismissed in the dying stages, Bangladesh lost five wickets for just 21 runs.

Deandra Dottin was the pick of the bowlers with 3-40, while Aaliyah Alleyne (2-22) and Matthews (2-41) provided good support.

- CMC