Matthews, Grimmond’s record 258-run opening stand drives nine-wicket victory over Ireland

Hayley Matthews produced a virtuoso all-round performance and combined with Realeanna Grimmond in a record-shattering opening partnership as West Indies steamrolled Ireland by nine wickets in the first ODI here at Bready on Friday, completing their highest successful run chase in Women’s ODI history.

Chasing 270 for victory, the West Indies openers made a mockery of the target, racing to 270 for 1 with more than ten overs to spare.

Matthews finished unbeaten on a majestic 159 off 123 balls, while Grimmond fell just short of a deserved century, making 91 as the pair put on 258 runs, the highest partnership for any wicket for West Indies in women’s ODIs, eclipsing the 204-run stand between Stafanie Taylor and Juliana Nero set back in 2011.

The chase exploded into life inside the powerplay, with Matthews and Grimmond plundering 13 fours between them in the first ten overs.

West Indies raced to 100 in just 14 overs, and Matthews brought up her 90-ball hundred in the 28th over before shifting into sixth gear with a flurry of sixes.

Grimmond, playing only her sixth ODI, registered her second fifty but was dropped on 84, before finally falling on 91 with just 12 runs required, the sole blemish in an otherwise flawless pursuit.

Earlier, Ireland had posted a competitive 269 all out, built around Amy Hunter’s superb 96. Hunter anchored the innings with four half-century partnerships, sharing 69 with Orla Prendergast, who made 30 and 50 with Rebecca Stokell, who weighed in with 20.

Captain Gaby Lewis with 39 provided a brisk start, and the hosts looked poised for a total well beyond 270 after reaching 38 overs at 5.71 runs per over.

But the innings unravelled in the middle overs as leg spinner Afy Fletcher, with 4 for 49 and Matthews 3 for 52, struck in quick succession.

Matthews broke the key stand by removing Lewis, and Fletcher dismissed Prendergast before the pair combined to derail Ireland’s momentum with four wickets between the 34th and 40th overs.

The hosts’ total proved far from sufficient. Jane Maguire’s dropped catch of Matthews when she was on 52 in the 12th over proved decisive, as the West Indies captain made Ireland pay in brutal fashion.

She smashed 24 fours and two sixes in her innings, while Grimmond’s 91 included 11 boundaries.

The victory by nine wickets with 65 balls remaining gives West Indies a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

(CMC)