CARDIFF, Wales, CMC – All-rounder Hayley Matthews warmed up for the start of the women’s Caribbean Premier League at month end with a sparkling knock for Welsh Fire as they beat London Spirit by 23 runs in the women’s Hundred.
Sent in at Sophia Gardens on Sunday, Fire rattled up 161 for four from their 100 deliveries with Matthews lashing 36 from 23 balls with five fours.
The 25-year-old put on a critical 78 for the third wicket with opener Sophia Dunkley, who top-scored with 68 from 48 balls with 10 fours, in a stand that pulled the innings around after Fire lost two wickets with the score on 75.
Dunkley had earlier put on 75 for the first wicket with captain Tammy Beaumont, whose 40 came from 28 deliveries and included seven fours.
Matthews, who entered at number four, was eventually run out off the final delivery of the innings, attempting a difficult second run.
In reply, captain Heather Knight and 19-year-old Indian Richa Ghosh both struck 34 while Grace Scrivens chipped in with an unbeaten 22, but Spirit never really recovered after slumping to 34 for three, experienced South Africa seamer Shabnim Ismail knocking over both openers to finish with two for 26.
Knight faced 28 balls and counted four fours and a six while Ghosh belted half-dozen fours in a 26-ball knock, the pair attempting to rally the chase in a 68-run fourth wicket partnership.
Leg-spinner Sophia Dunkley (2-15) removed both and once the stand was broken, four wickets tumbled for 13 runs as the chase went off the rails.
The win for Fire was their fifth in six outings, leaving them second on 11 points behind Southern Brave on 12, while Spirit’s defeat was their fourth in five matches, leaving them one from bottom of the eight-team standings on four points.
