West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews helped his side create history in Sydney as they chased down the target of 213 to stun Alyssa Healy's Australia and register highest successful run chase in women’s T20I cricket. Matthews scored 132 runs from just 64 balls as West Indies became the first team to chase down a target in excess of 200 in women's T20Is.
Matthews won the toss and opted to bowl first. Chinelle Henry struck with the first ball to remove Healy for a golden duck. Hayley got rid of Tahlia McGrath in the second over for a single-digit score. Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry got the innings back on track with a 75-run partnership for the third wicket. The Mumbai Indians all-rounder Matthews broke the partnership in the 10th over with the wicket of Mooney who scored 29 runs from 22 balls.
Shamilia Connell took the wicket of Ashleigh Gardner to add more pressure. Meanwhile, Perry completed his half-century. She went on to score 70 runs from 46 deliveries including five fours and four sixes. Phoebe Litchfield took the attack to the opposition in the slog overs. Matthews finished with the wicket of Annabel Sutherland who scored 13 runs from just six balls. Litchfield and Wareham went berserk to help Australia post a mammoth total of 212/6. Litchfield remained unbeaten for 52 off just 19 balls including three fours and five sixes. Wareham's 13-ball 32 included six fours. Litchfield reached her fifty from 18 balls, the joint-fastest in women's T20Is.
In the run chase, West Indies lost Shabika Gajnabi early in the innings to Megan Schutt. Matthews and Stafanie Taylor could not do much damage in the powerplay overs as the latter took her time. Matthews reached her half-century from just 26 balls. At the halfway stage, they were 96/1.
In the 11th over, Taylor got a second chance as Gardner dropped her catch on follow-through. Matthews continued to fire from one end. She got a reprieve as Litchfield dropped her catch at covers. Taylor completed her half-century from 45 balls with a boundary. Matthews completed her half-century with a boundary. The opener took 53 deliveries to reach the milestone.
The partnership was broken in the 17th over by Schutt. Taylor scored 59 runs from 41 balls including 11 fours. They shared a 174-run partnership for the second wicket. With 25 runs needed off the last two overs, Matthews went berserk against Jess Jonassen as he smashed four consecutive fours. On the fifth ball, Jonassen got the big wicket. Matthews' 64-ball 132 was laced with 20 fours and five sixes. In the final over, eight runs were needed. Shemaine Campbelle and Henry had momentum on their side. After a few fumbles in the field, Campbelle's shot for a couple toward long-on took West Indies home with a ball to spare.
“To chase down over 200 is something we've never been able to do let alone against the best team in the world. I'm incredibly proud of this squad and hopefully we can keep moving forward,” Matthews said in the post-match presentation.
The record for the highest successful run chase in women's T20I cricket belonged to England. The English side chased down 199 against India in 2018. West Indies' previous best was 154 against India in 2016.
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