Hayley Matthews has been the backbone of the West Indies throughout the tournament due to her match-winning performances and leadership.
Hayley Matthews led from the front as the West Indies women cruised to an eight-wicket victory over the Bangladesh women in a crucial ICC Women’s T20 World Cup encounter, keeping their semi-final hopes alive.
Matthews put in an outstanding all-round performance, contributing with both bat and ball to secure a dominant victory for his team. His quickfire 34 off 22 balls in the run chase set the tone for an easy win, while his bowling helped limit Bangladesh to a below-average total.
After electing to bat first, Bangladesh could only muster 103 for eight in their 20 overs, a total that was unlikely to ever affect the form of a West Indies team. Bangladesh’s batting was anchored by their captain Nigar Sultana Joty, who battled valiantly with a well-constructed 39 balls off 44.
Joty’s innings not only helped her team achieve a respectable score but also made her the first Bangladeshi woman to cross the milestone of 2000 T20I runs, marking a historic moment in her career.
However, Joty’s effort was not enough to offset the damage inflicted by the West Indies bowlers, particularly Karishma Ramharack. The off-spinner was the pick of the West Indies attack, with impressive figures of 4 for 17. She was also adjudged Player of the Match for her excellent spell.
Ramharack, along with Afy Fletcher, who claimed two key wickets, ensured that Bangladesh struggled to build momentum throughout their innings.
Fletcher dismissed Taj Nehar and Shorna Akter, leaving Bangladesh with few options to accelerate the score. Matthews piled on the pressure by removing Joty in the final over, ending Bangladesh’s innings at 103 for 8.
Chasing 104, West Indies got off to a flying start, with Matthews and Stafanie Taylor combining for an opening 52-run partnership. Matthews, known for her aggressive stroke play, took charge from the start and sent the Bangladesh players to all parts of the field.
He smashed five boundaries in his 34-run knock, giving West Indies the perfect platform to chase the target. Unfortunately, her innings was cut short when she was dismissed by Marufa Akter, but by then the damage had been done.
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Stafanie Taylor, who made 27 off 29 balls, also played a crucial role in the chase before being forced to retire injured. Despite his departure, the West Indies batsmen never seemed to be in trouble. Shemaine Campbelle contributed 21 off 16 balls before Deandra Dottin finished the match in style, smashing 19 not off just 7 deliveries. Dottin’s powerful knocks, including two sixes in the final overs, sealed the victory with 43 balls to spare.
This victory puts the West Indies in a strong position in the group stage, moving them closer to a place in the semi-finals. The victory was crucial for the Caribbean team as they rose to the top of the points table, backed by a healthy net run rate. With Matthews leading by example and his bowlers in excellent form, West Indies are peaking at the right time in this tournament.
For Bangladesh, it was another disappointing outing as their batting lineup once again failed to perform under pressure. While Joty’s milestone was a bright spot, the lack of contributions from other batsmen left them with plenty to do against a disciplined West Indies bowling attack.
Bangladesh’s hopes of advancing in the tournament now depend on their final group match against South Africa, where they will need a strong performance to keep their semi-final dreams alive.
As for the West Indies, with Hayley Matthews at the helm, they will be confident going into the remaining matches. Matthews has been the backbone of his team throughout the tournament and his leadership, combined with match-winning performances, makes West Indies a formidable title contender. This victory further cements their place as one of the teams to watch in the race for the Women’s T20 World Cup.