To begin the 12th Women’s World Cup in Mount Maunganui, West Indies defeated New Zealand by three runs behind Hayley Matthews’ superb century.
Opening the batting in place of Rashada Williams, the all-rounder smashed 16 fours and a six in her 128-ball 119 to take the game to the tournament hosts from the outset. In front of a tiny, Covid-19-restricted crowd, the 23-year-old Barbadian returned to take two for 41 with her off-spin and halted New Zealand’s attempt to chase down 260 runs for victory.
Both Sophie Devine and the New Zealand captain took full advantage of the West Indies’ sloppy fielding, which gave them at least two chances to win. In the end, it was Chinelle Henry, bowling beneath the Bay Oval lights, who finally got the better of the home skipper.
Deandra Dottin, bowling her first over of the match, dismissed Katey Martin (44) and Jess Kerr (25) with six runs needed from the final six deliveries, leaving New Zealand 256 all out.
‘Til the last over, I believed we were right in it,’ Devine reflected. In the 50th over, a bowler can’t get any more clutch than Dottin did.” “So, full credit to them, but we need to move on soon.”
After Williams was ruled out of the match due to concussion procedures, Matthews says her coach, Courtney Walsh, called her on Thursday and informed her that she would be opening in her place. Just thrilled to get some runs at the top,” added Matthews. “Definitely one of the best innings of my career,” he said.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the competition has been postponed for a year and the top four teams will go to the semi-finals. The defending champions, England, will play Australia, the preseason favourite, in Hamilton on Saturday.
In Overall Match Nutshell:
- NZ won the toss and put WI in to bat –
- Hayley Matthews hit 119, her first WC tonne, as WI amassed 259/9 in 50 overs.
- Lea Tahuhu finished with three wickets despite being pricey early on.
- Windies kept a tight rein on the chase, paying close attention to the run rate.
- Satterthwaite and Martin provided solid assistance for Sophie Devine’s 108, which put her in the lead.
- Anisa Mohammed became the first women’s cricket spinner to take 300 wickets in international cricket, while Heather Devine surpassed the 3000 ODI run mark for the first time.
- New Zealand’s Martin and Jess Kerr appeared poised to chase down the target.
- This was the first time in the last nine ODIs that Deandra Dottin had bowled, and she took two wickets and a run out to bowl out New Zealand.
- It was a good start for the Windies in their World Cup campaign. Upset
- In the game, Hayley Matthews was the standout performer.
Squads:
NEW ZEALAND: Sophie Devine (C), Amy Satterthwaite, Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Frances Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Travelling reserves: Molly Penfold
WEST INDIES: Stafanie Taylor (C), Anisa Mohammed (VC), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman and Rashada Williams.
Travelling Reserves: Kaysia Schultz, Mandy Mangru and Jannillea Glasgow
Hotstar and Star Sports will broadcast the ICC Women’s One-Day International World Cup.###
