Matthews reckons continued dominance could lead to T20 title

Hayley Matthews
Hayley Matthews

After playing undefeated and retaining the Cricket West Indies Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 title, Barbados’ skipper Hayley Matthews believes her side will continue to dominate heading into the T20 Blaze.

“We came down here to win tournaments, we won the 50 overs and going into the T20 we have no doubt that if we continue playing this brand of cricket we can come out on top,” Matthews said

 “If you look at the matches, we won the 50 over games dominantly, and if we carry that form into the T20, I think we should walk away with that as well,” she added.

Deandra Dottin

 Barbados completely bullied their opponents, gaining four bonus points from five matches with only Trinidad and Tobago holding them to a keenly contested competition before losing.

Deandra Dottin has been the stand out batter, blasting three half centuries, being dismissed only once.

Dottin has justified why she is one of the world’s most sought after all-rounders, adding to her half century against Trinidad with a six-wicket haul.

“She has had a stand out tournament,” said Matthews of Dotting hailing her for only being dismissed once in the tournament which she considers to be “very impressive,” despite having a shoulder injury.

Matthews has been equally impressive, taking 17 wickets from five matches with a best of 7-27 to complement her performances with the bat where she has smashed one of the three centuries scored in the Super50 as well as a brisk 91.

 Like Matthews, Kycia Knight too has scored three half centuries.

According to Matthews, the team had expected the top order to perform well and score most of the runs in their matches but while that has not worked out in every match, she explained that the middle order did their job.

Dottin said the expectations remain the same in the T20 format, with the team continuing to play the same way they have with “fearless and consistent cricket.”

The all-rounder brushed off suggestions of the familiarity among the teams playing to an advantage for Barbados but stressed of the importance to go out there and perform.

The T20 Blaze will begin tomorrow and will see three matches per day playing at the National Stadium, Providence beginning from 09.30 hrs.