Cricket

In the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup, West Indies Women emerged victorious in their match against Bangladesh Women, opting to field first after winning the toss. The match witnessed a thrilling display of batting and bowling, with both teams showcasing their skills.Bangladesh Women's innings got off to a slow start, with the openers struggling to find boundaries. However, Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary formed a crucial partnership, guiding their team to a respectable total. Sultana played a steady innings, scoring 25 runs off 32 deliveries, while Mostary contributed 22 runs off 26 balls.West Indies Women's bowling attack was led by Afy Fletcher, who claimed three wickets in her spell. Fletcher's accurate deliveries and variations proved too much for the Bangladesh batters, who were dismissed for 104 runs in 20 overs.In response, West Indies Women's batting lineup showed their dominance. Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor provided a solid foundation, scoring 25 and 24 runs, respectively. Deandra Dottin then took charge, smashing an unbeaten 34 runs off just 25 deliveries, including three boundaries and a six.Bangladesh Women's bowlers struggled to contain the West Indies batters, with only Fahima Khatun managing to pick up a wicket. West Indies Women chased down the target with ease, reaching 105 runs in 17.2 overs, securing a comfortable victory.The match highlighted the strengths of both teams. Bangladesh Women showed resilience in their batting, while West Indies Women displayed their all-around prowess, particularly in their bowling and fielding. The victory gives West Indies Women a boost in their campaign, while Bangladesh Women will look to improve their performance in their upcoming matches.

Hayley Matthews, the captain of the West Indies Women's cricket team, acknowledges the team's recent decline but remains determined to bridge the gap with the world's top teams. Despite being ranked sixth in the T20 format, Matthews believes that the team is on the right track, citing the efforts of Cricket West Indies (CWI) to invest in grassroots development programs.Matthews emphasizes the importance of fostering a love for the game, recalling her own childhood experiences on cricket fields. She has taken over the captaincy from Stafanie Taylor, who led the team to the T20 World Cup title in 2016. Since then, West Indies has faced challenges in building depth due to limited resources.However, CWI has taken steps to address these issues, increasing the number of women on retainer contracts, introducing the Women's Rising Stars Under-19s program, and launching the West Indies Women's Academy. The senior team's budget has also been increased, allowing for improved travel arrangements.While these initiatives will take time to bear fruit, Matthews is committed to inspiring her team both on and off the field. She has been a standout performer for West Indies in recent months, scoring centuries and taking wickets in series against Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.Matthews draws inspiration from Taylor's leadership style, emphasizing the importance of setting an example and creating a positive team culture. She acknowledges that West Indies is an underdog at the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh but believes that the team can surprise opponents with strong individual performances.The return of Deandra Dottin, who reversed her international retirement last week, could further boost West Indies' chances. Matthews remains cautious about commenting on Dottin's potential selection for the World Cup but acknowledges her ability to turn matches single-handedly.

The West Indies women's cricket team concluded their challenging tour of Sri Lanka on a triumphant note, securing a six-wicket victory in the third and final T20I in Hambantota. This victory sealed a come-from-behind 2-1 series win for the visitors.The West Indies' top three batters, Stafanie Taylor, Hayley Matthews, and Shemaine Campbelle, played pivotal roles in the chase. Taylor and Matthews formed a solid opening partnership of 60 runs, while Matthews and Campbelle added another 51 runs. Campbelle remained unbeaten on 41 off 30 deliveries, guiding her team to victory with just one ball to spare.Earlier, Sri Lanka had posted a competitive total of 141 for 7 after being put into bat. Chamari Athapaththu top-scored for the hosts with 38 runs, while Kavisha Dilhari contributed 26. However, the West Indies bowlers kept the Sri Lankan batters in check, with Aaliyah Alleyne and Chinelle Henry claiming two wickets each.The West Indies' victory was a testament to their resilience and determination. After losing the first T20I, they bounced back with a convincing win in the second match. In the final game, they showed their class by chasing down a challenging target with ease.Player of the Series Hayley Matthews played a key role in the West Indies' success. She scored 49 runs in the final match and took three wickets in the series. Her all-round performance was crucial in helping her team secure the series win.The West Indies' victory will give them confidence ahead of the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. They will be looking to build on this momentum and make a strong impact in the tournament.

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team secured a historic victory over West Indies in the first ODI of their three-match series in Hambantota on Saturday. The hosts triumphed by six wickets, marking their first ODI win against the Caribbean side since 2015.West Indies, sent in to bat, made a promising start with a 68-run partnership between Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle. However, the introduction of left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari proved pivotal. Kumari broke the second-wicket stand in the 19th over, triggering a collapse that saw West Indies lose their last eight wickets for just 120 runs.Matthews top-scored for West Indies with 38, while Stafanie Taylor contributed 33. Kumari and Kavisha Dilhari were the standout bowlers for Sri Lanka, claiming three wickets each.In response, Sri Lanka's top five batters played with composure and determination. Captain Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne laid the foundation with an 88-run opening partnership. After a brief wobble that saw Sri Lanka lose three wickets for 13 runs, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera steadied the ship.Samarawickrama remained unbeaten on 44, while Perera scored 43 as the pair put on a crucial 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Afy Fletcher picked up a late consolation wicket for West Indies, but it was too little too late as Sri Lanka cruised to victory with six wickets in hand.The win gives Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second ODI will be played on Monday, July 11, at the same venue.

West Indies Women's team kicked off their tour of Pakistan with a resounding 113-run victory in the first ODI, extending their winning streak in the country to seven matches. The triumph was orchestrated by a dominant all-round performance from Hayley Matthews, who notched up an unbeaten century and claimed three wickets.Matthews, who elected to bat first, anchored the West Indies innings with a masterful 140 off 150 deliveries, laced with 15 boundaries and a six. She forged a crucial 101-run partnership with Shemaine Campbelle for the second wicket, providing a solid foundation for the team's total.Despite losing early wickets, West Indies managed to post a formidable 269 for 8 thanks to contributions from Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, and Aaliyah Alleyne. Matthews' century was her fifth in ODIs and her highest score in the format.Pakistan's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost their top order cheaply. Matthews' bowling prowess came to the fore as she dismissed Nida Dar, triggering a collapse that Pakistan failed to recover from.Apart from Matthews' three-wicket haul, Afy Fletcher and Zaida James also chipped in with two wickets each. Pakistan's innings folded for a mere 156 in the 36th over, falling well short of their target.The victory marks a successful start to West Indies' tour of Pakistan, with the second and third ODIs scheduled to take place in Karachi on April 23 and 26.