ST LUCIA’S: The West Indies top order came to the party to post their highest Twenty20 International total of 187/5 and backed it up with a dominant performance on the field to wrap up an 83-run win over Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s World T20 and seal their spot in the semi-final.
Hayley Matthews’ 62 off 36 balls lit up the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Friday, as she and Deandra Dottin added 94 for the first wicket after the hosts chose to bat.
The team 100 came just after the half-way point of the innings.
While Dottin fell just short of her half-century, Stafanie Taylor continued entertaining the crowds with a brisk 41 off 25 balls.
Sri Lanka did well to pull things back, but apart from captain Chamari Atapattu, no batter could make more than 11. Matthews had two wickets in two deliveries, then took a brilliant leaping catch at extra cover to end Atapattu’s stay, and came back to claim her third wicket to make for a near perfect day.
The Windies thus stay on course to defend their title. They will play England, the other semi-finalists from Group A, on Sunday to decide who tops the group.
Scores:
West Indies Women 187-5 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 62, Deandra Dottin 49, Stafanie Taylor 41)
Sri Lanka Women 104 in 17.4 overs (Chamari Atapattu 44, Hayley Matthews 3/16)