A magnificent all-round performance from captain Hayley Matthews could not prevent the West Indies women from going down to Scotland by 11 runs in their opening ICC World Cup Qualifying match yesterday. And head coach Shane Deitz described his team’s overall effort as “pretty poor.”
The exception was Matthews.
“She leaves nothing in the sheds and she leads from the front. A lot of us could follow her and do what she does,” Deitz said in a CWI Media interview after what was a big setback in the Caribean team’s attempt to reach the 50-over World Cup.
Matthews claimed four wickets in helping to dismiss Scotland for 244, then returned to hit an unbeaten 114 in the West Indies’ reply of 233.
After being put into bat, Scotland’s openers, Abbi Aitken-Drummond and Darcey Carter, laid a solid foundation with a 48-run stand before Matthews struck, removing Aitken-Drummond for 21, Carter for 25, and Kathryn Bryce 6, in quick succession to leave Scotland at 69 for three.
Wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce steadied the innings with a crucial 56, as she shared in an 82-run fifth wicket partnership with Megan McColl to give the Scotland innings some impetus.
But Matthews’ four for 56 and two sharp run outs from Chinelle Henry, including McColl for 45, restricted Scotland to 244 in the 45th over. Aaliyah Alleyne and Karishma Ramharack each picked up two wickets.
In reply, the regional side got off to a bad start, losing opener Quaina Joseph without scoring with just seven runs on the board. Matthews then spearheaded the chase, as the skipper was well supported by Zaida James.
The pair added 113 for the second wicket before James fell to Abel for 45 off 89 balls, which included five fours and a six.
Scotland then dug in and began to pick up wickets at regular intervals, just as the Windies were looking to build partnerships and chip away at the runs.
Matthews had to retire hurt on 95 with the game in the balance as Scotland’s bowlers kept chipping away, with Katherine Fraser dismissing Cherry-Ann Fraser for a duck, leaving the Windies at 194 for seven in the 40th over.
“Many of us didn’t want her to go back out there but I think it would take a truck to stop here going out there..Amazing innings and great leader” Deitz said.
Returning to the crease, Matthews brought up a magnificent century but ran out of partners, finishing unbeaten on 114 from 113 balls as Aaliyah Alleyne was the last wicket to fall, lbw to Abtaha Maqsood for 17, sealing Scotland’s thrilling win.
“We really didn’t back ourselves enough. They wanted to win the game more and took it to us….Not good enough, can’t happen again,” Deitz declared.
In the day’s other game, host Pakistan defeated Ireland by 38 runs. West Indies now find themselves in a must-win situation in their next four matches if they are to keep the qualification hopes alive, starting tomorrow against Ireland.
But Deitz is taking comfort in recent history that his players can respond. “We did it in the World Cup (T20) when the chips were down, so that’s what we’re gonna do again… Every game is a grand final.”