Matthews’ century in vain as England trounce West Indies

West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews hit a brilliant, unbeaten century but it was not enough to save her side from being thumped by England Women by eight wickets in the opening Women’s T20I here on Wednesday.

Matthews batted through the entire innings on her way to registering her third T20I century, finishing on 100 not out to almost single-handedly get West Indies Women up to 146 for seven from their 20 overs after they were sent in to bat.

However, Sophia Dunkley responded by blasting an unbeaten 81 and Heather Knight scored 43 not out, as the home side cruised to 150 for two with 21 balls to spare.

The win helped England Women draw first blood and go 1-0 up in the best-of-three series.

Without the services of power hitters Deandra Dottin and Chinelle Henry, much of the batting responsibility was always going to be on Matthews.

The West Indies started promisingly, with Matthews and Qiana Joseph taking the score to 17-0 after three overs.

Lauren Bell ended the partnership by having Joseph caught for two in the next over and two balls later she had Zaida James caught behind to leave the Windies 17 for two.

The loss of wickets didn’t slow Matthews, who hit spinner Charlie Dean for three successive fours in the sixth over to move to 33 off 24 balls.

Debutant Realeanna Grimmond scored four runs before she was needlessly run out with the score on 47 as England remained in control of the contest.

Matthews eventually brought up her half century off 38 balls when she picked up a single off the bowling of Emily Arlott, who was also making her debut.

West Indies then lost the wickets of Shabika Gajnabi, Aaliyah Alleyne and Jannillea Glasgow in quick succession to slump to 87 for six in the 14th over.

But Matthews found a reliable partner in Mandy Mangru and the two added 47 runs for the seventh wicket to get West Indies past the 100 mark.

Not to be denied, Matthews smashed Issy Wong for two boundaries in the 18th over.

She entered the last over needing 11 runs to get to her century, which she did by scampering a single off the last ball of the innings.

In all, she faced 67 balls and struck 16 boundaries and one six.

Bell was England’s best bowler with 2-29 from her four overs.

England Women then got off to a speedy start with openers Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley putting on 51 runs inside six overs.

James reaped success for West Indies by bowling Wyatt-Hodge for 17 and five runs later spinner Afy Fletcher had captain Nat Sciver-Brunt caught for a duck to leave England 56 for two.

But Dunkley and Knight ensured there would be no further losses in an unbeaten 94-run partnership that deflated their opponents and effectively sealed the contest.

Dunkley faced 56 balls and hit 12 boundaries while Knight hit six fours in the 27 balls she faced. (CMC)