COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – West Indies Women secured the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka women after a dazzling all-round effort by Hayley Matthews spurred them to an easy nine wicket win in the final match here yesterday.
Matthews, with impressive figures of four for 10, restricted Sri Lanka to 74 runs and scored an unbeaten 32 as her side cruised to victory with 52 balls remaining at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
The Caribbean women have now wrapped-up the series two-one after losing the opening encounter.
Mathews grabbed four Sri Lankan wickets to crash any hopes of a recovery after Anisa Mohammed and her captain, wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira conspired to disable the top order.
The Sri Lankans, sent in by West Indies, struggled from the onset losing wickets frequently in the face of dangerous spells from Mathews and Mohammed.
Mohammed picked up two wickets for seven runs including two maidens from four overs.
She sent the home side reeling at six for two by removing opener Yasoda Mendis and Dilani Hansika cheaply, both caught by wicketkeeper Aguilleira.
Opener Chamari Jayangani top scored with 43 in a valiant attempt to steady a sliding innings but was quickly running out of partners as Hayley swept aside the middle order.
The off break bowler removed Nipuni Hansika for one, Shashikala Siriwardene for two, Eshani Kaushalya for two and Sripali Weerakkody for a single as the Sri Lankan innings imploded.
While Jayangani perished approaching the death overs, Sri Lanka’s only other double digit contributor, Chathurani Gunawardene scored 10.
Matthews and Stafanie Taylor brought West Indies well within sight of their series victory by putting on 74 runs for the first wicket.
Taylor, who scored 38 from 35 balls punctuated with six fours, was caught while attempting to take her side across the line in fine style.
Matthews struck five fours and was unbeaten on 32 from 33 balls.
