CHELMSFORD – Hayley Matthews was the star of the show once more, but her efforts could not stop West Indies Women from going down by 17 runs in the third and final T20I against England at the Essex County Cricket Ground in England on Monday.
The dynamic all-rounder grabbed three wickets as England Women were restricted to 144 for five from their 20 overs after being sent in to bat.
Matthews then returned to score 71, but she received little assistance from the other batters and West Indies Women could only muster 127 for eight off 20 overs.
Despite England sweeping the three-match series, her performance earned her not only the Player-of-the-Match award, but also the Player-of-the-Series, after finishing with 177 runs and three wickets.
West Indies Women got off to a dream start when Zaida James bowled opener Dani Wyatt-Hodge with the first ball for the second straight match.
Matthews then had Sophia Dunkley caught behind for three to leave England in a spot of bother at 21 for two in the fifth over.
Unlike the first two matches of the series where England got off to fast starts, West Indies’ bowlers kept them in check and they crept to 59 for two after 10 overs.
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a laboured 37 off 40 balls before she became Matthews’ second wicket.
But Heather Knight came to England’s rescue, blasting an unbeaten 66 off 47 balls with seven fours and one six, as the home side bludgeoned 85 runs from the last 10 overs.
It was a match-winning effort from Knight, who struggled with a hamstring injury during her innings.
Matthews ended with 3-32 from her four overs, while debutant Jahzara Claxton took 1-15 in her four overs.
West Indies Women suffered a similarly horrible start, with Qiana Joseph losing her leg stump to Lauren’s Bell first delivery of the innings.
Matthews then added 31 with James, who struggled in facing 16 balls for her seven runs, before the latter was dismissed by Em Arlott.
New batter Realeanna Grimmond lived a charmed life during her knock of 15 from 16 balls, being dropped off three consecutive balls.
First Sciver-Brunt put down a relatively simple catch at midwicket off the bowling of spinner Charlie Dean, the next ball Dean spilled a difficult caught and bowled opportunity and then wicketkeeper Amy Jones failed to hold onto a thick outside edge.
She lost her wicket the next ball she faced, however, caught by Wyatt-Hodge at cover, as West Indies slipped to 63 for three after 11 overs.
With the threat of rain lingering, Matthews began to accelerate, hitting Sarah Glenn for two boundaries in the ensuing over before bringing up her 17th T20I half century off 41 balls.
She hit Glenn for two consecutive fours in the 15th over that saw West Indie move to 96 for three.
There was a slight 10-minute break following a brief shower, and on resumption Shabika Gajnabi launched the first ball bowled by Linsey Smith over long off for six.
However, Smith struck two crucial blows three balls later by dismissing Gajnabi and Claxton in successive deliveries to leave West Indies 109 for five.
The match was essentially decided four runs later when Matthews was caught at long on by Arlott off the bowling of Bell trying to clear the ropes.
In all, she faced 54 balls and struck 11 fours and one six.
Four English bowlers took two wickets apiece with Bell (2-11), Linsey Smith (2-25), Arlott (2-26) and Dean (2-31).
CMC
Summarised cores
ENGLAND WOMEN 144-5 in 20 overs (Heather Knight 66 not out, Nat Sciver-Brunt 37, Amy Jones 22; Hayley Matthews 3-32).
WEST INDIES WOMEN 127-8 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 71, Realeanna Grimmond 15, Shabika Gajnabi 14; Lauren Bell 2-11, Linsey Smith 2-25, Em Arlott 2-26, Charlie Dean 2-31).
England Women won by 17 runs.
