Matthews crowned T20 queen

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been voted the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 Player-of-the-Year.

The 25-year-old beat out competition from Sri Lankan Chamari Athapaththu, England’s Sophie Ecclestone and Australia’s Ellyse Perry, and was chosen following voting by the ICC Voting Academy and global fans.

Matthews was in dominant form during the period under consideration last year, plundering 700 runs at an average of 63 from 14 matches, inclusive of one hundred and four fifties.

“I’ve been pretty blessed to have a good year wearing the West Indies colours, performing really well and helping the team,” Matthews said.

“This is one of those awards that I’m going to cherish forever and knowing that it can make our West Indies fans home in the Caribbean and around the world happy is what motivates me to go out there and do my best.”

Matthews, who made her international debut as a 16-year-old, enjoyed a run of eight consecutive Player-of-the-Match awards, having won two in the T20 World Cup in South Africa last February, and all three in the following T20 series against Ireland and Australia.

An effective off-spinner, Matthews also grabbed 19 wickets last year at an average of 16.

Earlier this week, she was also named in the ICC T20I Team of the Year.

India’s batting star Suryakumar Yadav captured the men’s T20I Player-of-the-Year honour. (CMC)