Bowlers propel West Indies to a convincing win

Hayley Matthews and Stacy-Ann King's 30s and economical spells from the bowlers guided West Indies to an easy win over Ireland in the second T20I on May 28 at Pembroke Cricket Club, Dublin. With this win, West Indies won the three-match series as well.

West Indies won the toss and opted to bat first. Openers Hayley Matthews and Britney Cooper were seen in their original form as they compiled a quickfire 32 runs in 3.4 overs before Cooper was dismissed for 20 off 11 after giving an easy return catch to the bowler, Kim Garth. Her dismissal brought Stacy-Ann King on the crease where she started building the partnership with Matthews.

Both added 38 runs before Matthews missed the delivery of Martiz which smashed the leg stump. Matthews scored 33 off 32, including two boundaries and as many sixes. Later, King and Shemaine Campbelle tried to resurrect the innings with 48 runs. King compiled a 33-ball 34 while Campbelle chipped in with 19 off 18. Windies were 124/5 after 16.5 overs but a late blitz from Natasha McLean (16* off 15) and Kycia Knight's 7-ball 11 took them to 157 on board after the allotted overs where Kim Garth bagged 3 wickets for Ireland.

To chase a competitive target, Ireland openers Gaby Lewis and Mary Waldron got off to a steady start. Lewis took the charge from the very first over whereas Waldron hit two consecutive boundaries off Matthews in the fourth over. However, they suffered an early loss as in-form Lewis was bowled by King for run-a-ball 11. Then, a 23-run partnership came from Waldron and the captain Kim Garth; who led the team, replacing the injured Laura Delany, the regular skipper.

Like the first game, the pressure fell upon the experienced Kim Garth to chase down the total. While she was holding the chase from one end, wickets starting falling from the other end. Afy Fletcher struck twice in the 15th over when she picked up Una Raymond-Hoey and Louise Little for 1 and 0 respectively which left Ireland struggling at 67/6 after 14.5 overs.

However, the chase could have ended under 100 but Kim Garth's half-century lifted them to 112 after 20 overs. The first maximum in their run-chase came from her bat only in the penultimate over when she smashed the second delivery of Fletcher over the bowler's head. Bowlers, especially King and Fletcher's economical spells didn't allow the batters to score freely which led Windies to a 45-run win.

The final game of the T20I series will be played in Pembroke Cricket Club, Dublin on May 29.