Tons by Matthews, Taylor help Windies Women seal series win over Ireland

BREADY – West Indies Women captain Hayley Matthews scored a second consecutive century, while Stafanie Taylor chipped in with one of her own to lead their side to a comprehensive six-wicket victory over Ireland Women in the second One Day International in Ireland on Sunday.

Matthews, who was named Player-of-the-Match, scored an even 100 off 94 balls, while Taylor hit an unbeaten 100 off 105 balls, as the Windies Women easily overhauled Ireland Women’s total of 241 for seven, finishing on 242 for four in 38.5 overs.

With the win, the visitors secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series ahead of the final match on Wednesday.

It was another impressive display with the bat by the Windies, following their record-breaking run chase in the opening match.

They didn’t get the start they would have liked, though, with Matthews’ partner Realeanna Grimmond falling for a duck in the first over of the innings, caught behind off the bowling of Orla Prendergast.

But Matthews and Taylor made amends during a 158-run partnership, scoring at over six runs an over in the process.

The skipper was first to her 50, bringing it up in emphatic fashion by hitting the 56th ball she faced from Aimee Maguire for a huge six.

So dominant was Matthews during the stand that by the time she reached her 13th ODI century off 94 balls by driving Louise Little through the offside for a single, Taylor was only 47.

Matthews was dismissed immediately after reaching the milestone by Little after smashing 14 fours and two sixes to make the score 159 for two at the end of the 26th over.

Ireland accounted for the cheap wickets of Deandra Dottin and Jannillea Glasgow for nine runs apiece, to see them slip to 199 for four, but the Windies required just 43 runs from 94 balls at that stage.

Taylor found a worthy ally in Shemaine Campbelle, with the two sharing an unbroken partnership of 43 runs to see the Windies to victory with 67 balls to spare.

Taylor ensured she reached her 10th ODI century by hitting Alana Dalzell for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries to even the scores, before a no-ball by the same bowler ended the contest.

Earlier, Amy Hunter and Rebecca Stokell scored half-centuries, but Ireland were set back by a lower-order collapse that stymied their progress.

They recovered after Dottin claimed the wickets of openers Sarah Forbes and captain Gaby Lewis, while Matthews snared the key wicket of Prendergast to leave them 74 for three.

However, Hunter and Stokell resuscitated the inning during a stand of 106 runs for the fourth wicket that carried them to 180 for three after 40 overs.

But once Stokell was dismissed by Afy Fletcher after scoring 57 off 76 balls, and Hunter fell to Matthews for the top score of 67 off 87 balls to make the score 188 for five, Ireland’s innings lost all momentum.

Dottin was the West Indies’ best bowler with 2-15, while Matthews took 2-34.

CMC

Scores

IRELAND WOMEN 241-7 in 50 overs (Amy Hunter 67, Rebecca Stokell 57, Leah Paul 32, Gaby Lewis 24, Sarah Forbes 17, Alana Dalzell 17 not out; Deandra Dottin 2-15, Hayley Matthews 2-34).

WEST INDIES WOMEN 242-4 in 38.5 overs (Stafanie Taylor 100 not out, Hayley Matthews 100, Shemaine Campbelle 10 not out; Aimee Maguire 2-52).

West Indies Women defeated Ireland Women by six wickets