NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC):
Hayley Matthews’s all-around enterprise went to waste as West Indies Women slid to a five-wicket defeat to New Zealand Women to fall behind in the five-match series.
Sent in at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in the third Twenty20 International here yesterday, the hosts could only muster 93 for nine from their 20 overs, with captain Matthews top-scoring with 30 from 29 balls and 18-year-old left-arm spinner Fran Jonas snatching three for 16.
In reply, New Zealand Women rebounded from dire straits at 20 for four in the sixth over to reach their target with eight balls to spare, Player-of-the-Match Maddy Green leading the comeback with an unbeaten 49 from 45 deliveries.
Matthews claimed four for 12 with her off-breaks to wipe out the top order but lacked support, and New Zealand Women recovered to establish a 2-1 series lead.
The two teams will clash again in the critical fourth match at the same venue on Wednesday.
Matthews struck four fours in her 28-ball stay at the crease but was one of three wickets to fall as West Indies Women slumped to 38 for three in the ninth over.
Kyshona Knight (16) and Chinelle Henry (13) staged the best stand of the innings when they put on 29 for the fourth wicket, but once they were separated, wickets fell steadily again as six tumbled for 24 runs.
Seamer Suzie Bates (two for five) and 21-year-old off-spinner Eden Carson (two for 14) provided support for Jonas with two wickets apiece.
Matthews then turned the game in her side’s favour when she knocked over both openers Bates (two) and captain Sophie Devine (three) before adding the scalps of Amelia Kerr (zero) and Georgia Plimmer (12).
However, Green countered for the visitors, hitting half-dozen fours as she put on 38 for the fifth wicket with Lauren Down (16) and a further 36 with Hayley Jensen (eight not out) in an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership, to see off the hosts’ challenge.