Matthews ton, three-for give West Indies comfortable win over Ireland
Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry also slam fifties, while Gaby Lewis' 83 proves insufficient for the visitors in Gros Islet
ESPNcricinfo staff
27-Jun-2023
Hayley Matthews was at her best with both bat and ball • ICC via Getty Images
West Indies 297 for 6 (Matthews 109, Taylor 55, Henry 53*, Murray 3-60) beat Ireland 239 for 9 (Lewis 83, Delany 40, Matthews 3-53, Fletcher 2-49) by 58 runs
Captain Hayley Matthews' all-round show where she scored 109 and followed it up with a three-wicket burst helped West Indies ease to a 58-run win over Ireland in the opening women's ODI in Gros Islet.
Batting first, the hosts lost debutant Zaida James cheaply, but Matthews and Stafanie Taylor brought out their experience to shepherd the innings after a slow start. The duo added a 156-run stand off 153 balls for the second wicket.
Matthews was the aggressor as she reached her half-century off 53 balls and picked up the pace after reaching the landmark. It did not take her long to breach the three-figure mark, reaching there in 96 balls, with the help of nine fours and two sixes. Taylor reached her fifty off 62 balls but fell soon after for 55 to legspinner Cara Murray.
Taylor's wicket produced an opening for Ireland, with West Indies losing 3 for 6 in ten balls, but Chinelle Henry came in and slammed an unbeaten 37-ball 53, her innings laced with seven fours as West Indies reached a formidable 297 for 6. Murray was Ireland's most successful bowler, picking up three wickets.
Ireland were circumspect in the chase, only managing 35 runs in the powerplay. Opener Gaby Lewis held the innings together, adding a 67-run stand with Orla Prendergast (37) for the second wicket and following it up with a 71-run partnership with captain Laura Delany (40).
Matthews then struck with the ball, too, taking out Lewis for 83 before removing Delany. None of the other batters could put up much of a fight as Ireland finished on 239 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Matthews finished with 3 for 53 in her ten overs, while Afy Fletcher and Qiana Joseph chipped in with two wickets apiece. Matthews was named Player of the Match for her all-round effort.