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- West Indies Women's captain Hayley Matthews praised her team's fightback despite losing the T20I series to Australia Women.
- Matthews highlighted improved partnerships and individual performances, including her own half-century and contributions from Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor.
- The team showed mental resilience in their bowling innings, limiting Australia's scoring after a strong start.
- The absence of injured batter Chinelle Henry was noted as a significant factor in the 17-run defeat.
Kingstown, St. Vincent – West Indies Women's cricket captain Hayley Matthews expressed satisfaction with her team's resilience and individual performances, despite conceding their T20 International series to Australia Women following a 17-run defeat on Saturday evening. Matthews highlighted the improved partnerships and mental fortitude displayed by her squad, even as they faced a formidable Australian side.
The second T20 International saw Australia get off to a rapid start, with openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney quickly accumulating 54 runs during the Powerplay. This aggressive opening set the stage for a challenging target, but the West Indies bowlers managed to rein in the scoring towards the end of the innings, limiting Australia to 164 for five in their 20 overs.
Matthews herself broke a personal batting slump, contributing a crucial half-century. She also lauded the efforts of experienced players Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor, whose contributions were vital in the team's response. The captain specifically noted the team's mental resilience during their bowling innings, a factor she believes was key in preventing an even larger Australian total.
However, the absence of injured batter Chinelle Henry was felt keenly by the West Indies. Matthews acknowledged that Henry's unavailability was a significant factor in their 17-run defeat, underscoring the impact of key players on team dynamics. Despite the series loss, Matthews remains optimistic, indicating that the team aims to integrate these positive aspects and individual improvements into their upcoming matches, building on the fightback shown in the second T20I.