Captain Hayley Matthews Leads West Indies Women to Historic Victory Against Australia Women in World Record T20I Chase

West Indies Women produced a world record T20I chase against Australia Women at the North Sydney Oval to beat the world champions by seven wickets earlier today in the highest scoring Women’s T20I match in history.

Australia Women were put in to bat by captain Hayley Matthews and made 212-6 in 20 overs. The Windies were able to win with a ball to spare, thanks to an extraordinary century from Matthews, finishing on 213-3 in 19.5 overs. This result meant Australia conceded 200 runs in a T20Is for the first time.

The game began brilliantly for the visitors when Australian captain Alyssa Healy was caught at point, thanks to superb fielding by Shermaine Campbelle on the first ball of the day. It got better when Talia Mcgrath’s defences were breached by Matthews’ off break, which spun sharply and pegged back her leg stump.

From there, the hosts rebuilt in a 70-run partnership between opener Beth Mooney and all-rounder Ellyse Perry before a couple of wickets fell quickly, leaving them 87-4 after 11.4 overs. Phoebe Litchfield came in at six and delivered the joint fastest half-century in WT20Is.

Matching Sophie Devine’s 18-ball effort vs India in 2015, Litchfield hit five sixes and three boundaries which intertwined with Georgie Wareham’s cameo of 32 runs from 13 balls to produce a power-packed finish. Australia Women scored 88 runs from the final five overs in the innings (which is a record) to finish the innings on 212-6 despite Matthews’ figures of 3-36.

Off the back of a score of 99 not out in a losing cause on Sunday, Matthews backed it up with the highest individual score in a women’s T20I run chase which included 20 fours and five sixes. After being dropped on 30 by Megan Schutt, the Barbadian all-rounder brought up her century in 53 balls. Key to the chase was a 174-run second-wicket partnership from 88 balls between Matthews and former captain Stefanie Taylor, the West Indies’ highest partnership for any wicket in this format.

Matthews was eventually dismissed by slow left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen for 132 runs, leaving the West Indies on the brink of victory with nine runs needed from seven balls. Shemaine Campbelle and Chinelle Henry were able to scamper in the final over against Ash Gardner with a ball to spare when Australia had to have an extra fielder inside the ring due to a slow over-rate. This is the first time West Indies Women passed 200 runs in T20I cricket.

Speaking after winning a record-breaking seventh consecutive Player Of The Match award, Hayley Matthews said, “I think I’ve learned more about myself and my batting and the areas I want to access. It’s been working really well for me. The leadership of the team has made me take a lot more responsibility. Last game we spoke about learning and we came in with the exact same team for that exact reason.”

“To chase down over 200 runs is something we’ve never been able to do, let alone against the best in the world. I’m incredibly proud of this squad and, hopefully, we can keep moving forward.”