AUS vs WI 2nd T20I: Hayley Matthews Smashes A Ton; West Indies Register An Incredible Win

AUS vs WI: Some masterclass batting performance was witnessed by the Windies captain, Hayley Matthews, who not only secured a T20 century but also led the team to an incredible win. This has tied the series down to 1-1, with another match to spare which will decide the winner.

Australia fought tough in the first inning. The team was off to a good start and they laid a good score for West Indies to chase. The sturdy Windies seemed to offer their best foot forward and played a brave game, chasing down a tower of 212 runs.

Power-hitting was the highlight of the game. Each team batted brilliantly, contributing 200+ runs on both sides in 20 overs each. Ellyse Perry was a spectacle to watch. She was joined by Pheobe Litchfield in the first inning and the two set a heap of runs for West Indies to chase. While Matthews laid the foundation for runs for the West Indies in the second inning, the game was carried forward by Stafanie Taylor who contributed a half-century.

The chronology of the game was as follows. Winning the toss, West Indies decided to bowl first, without realizing the heap of runs, Australia was willing to offer. A poor start for Australia as they lost Alyssa Healy on the very first delivery of the game. Later Tahlia McGrath was also lost, too early for the inning. Losing two star players in the first 2 overs was a major distraction for the Australians.

Beth Mooney held a firm ground alongside Ellyse Perry. The two batted and contributed the major runs for the team. While Perry stroke boundaries across the field, Mooney offered a firm support and the two contributed about 70 runs together until Mooney was lost.

Hayley Matthews shined with the ball in hand and caught players like Mooney into her trap. The Australian team, now, awaited a steady player, who was capable of securing fast runs and also holding the crease for as long as possible. Phoebe Litchfield did just that. Her contribution of 52 runs in 19 deliveries was spectacular indeed. Brilliant strokes, and power-hitting at its finest as the player played at a strike rate of 273.

Litchfield played an invincible inning and was later joined by Georgia Wareham. Wareham also played a quick game and finally, the team was led to a huge total of 212 at a loss of 6 wickets. Hayley Matthews picked 3 major wickets becoming the star bowler and was followed by Shamilia Connell who picked 2.

Hayley Matthews opened the bat. Her fantastic shots and brilliantly timed strokes won the hearts of all. Matthews played a fine game. Her set mindset and firm body language throughout helped her focus harder and perform much better. She secured a total of 132 runs in just 64 deliveries. A captain’s contribution indeed; playing at a strike rate of 206 and picking 3 wickets in the first inning. She was assisted by Stafanie Taylor who secured 59 runs in 41 deliveries. Taylor also played a brilliant game and finally, the team was able to chase down all the required runs in 19.5 overs.

Australian bowlers, especially Megan Schutt did try to take a few wickets. Schutt secured the wickets of major players like Shabika Gajnabi and Stafanie Taylor. Hayley Matthews was bowled out of Jess Jonassen’s delivery.

With this, West Indies won by 7 wickets and a ball to spare. Brilliant game between the two teams. While Australia had won the first game, West Indies won the second and the scores between the two teams are now tied at 1-1. The third and final game will be a decisive one.

AUS vs WI 2nd T20I: Brief score

Australia 212/6 (Ellyse Perry 70 (46), Pheobe Litchfield 52 (19), Hayley Matthews 3/36) lost against West Indies 213/3 (Hayley Matthews 132(64), Stafanie Taylor 59 (41), Megan Schutt 2/30) by 7 wickets.

Click Here to get the latest news related to women’s cricket. You can also check about Match predictions here. like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more updates.