Brady: Captain Hayley Mathews backed up her impressive bowling figures with a mammoth century of 3/52 and West Indies cruised to a dominant nine-wicket victory over Ireland in the first Women’s ODI of the three-match overseas series at Brady Cricket Club on Friday.
Batting first, the home side piled up 269 runs in 49 overs on the back of Amy Hunter’s magnificent half-century.
Ireland’s top wicketkeeper batsman scored 96 off 90 balls with 10 fours and a six, while captain KP Lewis (39) and middle-order Arla Prendergast (30) scored notable runs.
Affi Fletcher was the standout bowler for West Indies as she took four wickets for just 49 runs in her 10 overs, followed by captain Mathews with three wickets, while Karisma Ramharak and Janillia Glasgow picked up a scalp each.
In reply, West Indies made it easy to set a target of 270 runs, courtesy of their openers Realiana Grimmond and Mathews.
The duo overpowered the Irish bowlers and put up a mammoth stand of 258 runs, which put the visitors within touching distance of a comfortable victory.
However, Lewis Little denied the West Indies a 10-wicket win by dismissing Grimmond in the 38th over, with the tourists needing 12 runs from 76 balls.
Grimmond scored 91 off 107 balls with the help of 11 boundaries.
However, Mathews carried his bat to the full and led the West Indies to a stunning victory in the next over, scoring an unbeaten 159 off 123 balls with 24 fours and 2 sixes. He was adjudged man of the match for his all-round prowess.