The opening T20I of the Ireland Women tour of West Indies 2023 witnessed an enthralling encounter at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Tuesday. In a closely fought contest, the hosts emerged victorious, clinching a nerve-wracking two-wicket win over their opponents.
Having won the toss, West Indies elected to bowl first, aiming to restrict Ireland to a manageable total. The Irish team struggled to build substantial partnerships and finished their innings with a total of 112 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Laura Delany played a pivotal role in the Irish innings, scoring 34 runs off 36 deliveries. Eimear Richardson contributed a valuable 22 runs from 24 balls. Among the West Indies bowlers, Hayley Matthews proved to be the standout performer, claiming three wickets for 22 runs in her four overs. Cherry-Ann Fraser and Afy Fletcher also made notable contributions with two and one wicket, respectively.
Chasing a target of 113 runs, the home team faced early setbacks, losing wickets at regular intervals. Captain Matthews, who sizzled with the ball, anchored the innings, scoring a crucial 37 runs off 42 deliveries to stabilize the chase.
However, the West Indies batters faced a stern test from the disciplined Irish bowling attack. Arlene Kelly was the pick of the bowlers for Ireland, bagging three wickets for 21 runs in her four overs. Despite the tense situation, Fletcher’s brisk knock of 19 runs off 12 balls played a crucial role in guiding West Indies towards victory. In the end, West Indies Women managed to surpass the target with just two wickets in hand, sealing a hard-fought win in an exciting encounter. Matthews was rightfully awarded the Player of the Match for her outstanding all-round performance.
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