Hayley Matthews 82 seals dominant opening win

West Indies Women opened their Tri Series campaign in emphatic fashion on Thursday, brushing aside Ireland by eight wickets after a commanding all round display led by captain Hayley Matthews.

Ireland’s innings unraveled early after being sent in to bat, as the top order collapsed under sustained pressure in the opening overs. Three wickets fell inside the first six overs, reducing the hosts to 36 for 3 and leaving them struggling to recover momentum.

Although skipper Orla Prendergast offered brief resistance with 25 runs and Leah Paul contributed 21, Ireland were unable to form partnerships capable of stabilising the innings. Their effort ended abruptly on 103 all out in just 17 overs.

The damage was inflicted largely by left arm spinner Qiana Joseph, who produced a remarkable spell of 3 for 8 from two overs. She was well supported by Zaida James and Jahzara Claxton, who both claimed two wickets apiece. West Indies also excelled in the field, with sharp catching contributing to eight dismissals as Ireland repeatedly attempted to lift the scoring rate under pressure.

In reply, West Indies experienced early setbacks that briefly raised hopes for the home side. Deandra Dottin, appearing in her 300th international match, was dismissed for 3 after being caught in the deep off Ava Canning. Joseph also fell cheaply for 6 to the same bowler, leaving West Indies at 35 for 2 just before the end of the powerplay.

From that point onward, Matthews took full control of the chase. Displaying a measured blend of aggression and precision, she punished any loose deliveries and steadily shifted the momentum back in her team’s favour. She reached her half century in just 34 balls, asserting authority over the Irish attack.

Experienced batter Stafanie Taylor provided calm support at the other end, helping to ensure stability during the middle phase of the innings. Matthews remained unbeaten on 82 from 44 deliveries, guiding West Indies to 104 for 2 and sealing victory with overs to spare.

The performance underlined West Indies’ dominance in all departments and set a strong tone for their Tri Series campaign.

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