BBC Online :
Hayley Matthews inspired West Indies to an upset three-run victory over hosts New Zealand in a tense opening match of the Women’s World Cup in Tauranga on Friday.
Matthews struck a sparkling 119 to propel West Indies to 259-9 after they were asked to bat in ideal conditions at the picturesque Bay Oval.
Though New Zealand captain Sophie Devine made a century of her own, New Zealand were rarely on top of the chase, partly thanks to Matthews claiming 2-41 with her off-spin.
After Devine was brilliantly caught and bowled for 108 by Chinelle Henry, wicketkeeper Katey Martin was left to marshal the tail. Martin’s hitting got the equation down to six from the final over, only for Deandra Dottin to take the ball for the first time and trap Martin lbw for 44 with a pinpoint yorker.
Dottin then had Jess Kerr caught at mid-off and when Fran Jonas was run out off the next ball, West Indies had won by three runs. It was a suitably thrilling curtain-raiser to a tournament delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, whetting the appetite for the remaining 30 games up to the final in Christchurch on 3 April.
Matthews and Dottin were stars of the triumph at the 2016 T20 World Cup, but West Indies have been a shadow of that side since – they won only two games at the last 50-over World Cup in 2017.
