Captain Hayley Matthews produced a determined half-century, scoring 56 off 41 balls, but West Indies women’s national cricket team still fell 17 runs short against the Australia women’s national cricket team, who secured a series-clinching 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
After choosing to bat, Australia made 164/5, thanks to a strong start from Georgia Voll, who struck 39 off 23 balls with six fours and one six, and a steady innings from Beth Mooney with 17 off 20 balls .
The middle order then took control, with Ellyse Perry top-scoring with 42 off 28 balls and Phoebe Litchfield adding 35, as the pair shared a 58-run partnership to put their team in a strong position at 129 for two.
Despite the West Indies bowlers, led by Matthews, pulled things back late by slowing the scoring and taking wickets, with the final three overs yielding only 20 runs and two wickets, Australia still finished with a competitive total.
In response, the West Indies got off to a shaky start, losing the early wicket of Qiana Joseph who was run out for 11 with just 13 runs on the board before Matthews and Stafanie Taylor built a crucial 77-run partnership that briefly put the hosts in contention.
Matthews, after a slow start, accelerated to bring up her eighth T20I half-century and looked set to push her team closer to the target. However, her dismissal at a key moment shifted momentum back to Australia.
Matthews slapped spinner, Player-of-the-Match Alana King straight into the hands of captain Sophie Molineux to leave the Windies 90 for two in the 13th over.
From there, the innings lost direction as Taylor struggled to increase the scoring rate and fell for 22 by the hands of Alana King, while other batters failed to make significant contributions.
Georgia Wareham dismissed Shemaine Campbelle for six to see the home side slump to 113 for four in the 18th over.
King played a decisive role with the ball, finishing with 2-25, and received support from Wareham, who also struck at an important stage.
Despite a late unbeaten 39 from Deandra Dottin, the West Indies were left needing an unrealistic 41 runs from the final two overs and ended on 147/4.
The victory marked Australia’s fourth consecutive T20I series win over the West Indies.
