Matthews does the star turn as WI draws level

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews shines with unbeaten 85 as team levels T20I series against India.

It’s not for nothing that Hayley Matthews is rated so high. The West Indies captain led from the front (85 n.o., 47b, 17x4) as the team cruised to a nine-wicket win against India and drew level in the three-match T20I series at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday.

Moving on from the defeat in the series opener, the West Indies batters put up a spirited show and chased down India’s tricky total of 159 for nine without much sweat.

With the dew settling in, the Indian bowlers struggled to find breakthroughs. Making the most of the reprieves, Matthews and Qiana Joseph forged an opening stand of 66 to set the tone.

With Harmanpreet Kaur missing out due to a dodgy knee, stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana explored every possible bowling option, but nothing clicked as Matthews looked at ease en route her 15th fifty in T20Is.

She played second fiddle when Joseph went on the rampage, hammering three fours and a six in Titas Sadhu’s opening over.

Matthews flexed her muscles soon, tearing apart Renuka Singh and taking the team to 65 in the PowerPlay.

Even though Saima Thakor claimed her maiden wicket in T20Is by sending back Joseph shortly after the PowerPlay, Matthews forged an unbeaten 94-run partnership with Shemaine Campbelle (29 n.o., 26b, 4x4).