Taylor, Matthews star for Windies

The West Indies women created history when they beat defending champions Australia by five wickets to win the T20 World Cup for the first time today.

Electing to bat at the Eden Gardens, Australia made 148 for five which looked a challenging total but the West Indian openers Hayley Matthews (66) and Stafanie Taylor (59) made light of the target putting on 120 runs in the first 15 overs. 

Matthews felt the total was challenging. “Great to knock off such a good score to win the tournament, always going to be a hard total,” said Matthews after the match. Matthews was the more aggressive of the two hitting three sixes, the third one taking her to her fifty.  She also hit six fours in her 66 off 45 balls. 

When she left the score was 120 and all that captain Taylor needed to do was to guide the side home. Though she fell for 59 off 57 balls towards the end, her team had reached the home stretch by then. Both the sides fielded unchanged sides. Australian captain Meg Lanning reckoned good even covering of grass at the Eden meant the ball would carry on nicely. 

The Australian start was not rousing as they lost Healy for 4 with Mathews picking up the attempted drive which came off the toe-end of the bat. However, Villani was in full cry and with captain Meg Lanning at the other end, the Australians were scoring almost at 10 runs per over. 

The introduction of Anisa Mohammed slowed down the Australian scoring rate somewhat as she conceded only one run in her first over. Australia lost their second wicket when Villani played a loose shot off Dottin and spooned a catch to Taylor. 

Villani made 52 from 37 balls with nine fours and added 77 runs for the second wicket with Lanning. Lanning fell when Anisa Mohammed came back for her last over. The off-spinner dismissed the Australian captain for 52 (49 balls, eight fours). 

The West Indies women emulated their U-19 team as winners of a global event. West Indies have been ably led by all-rounder Stafanie Taylor, who was West Indies’ leading run-scorer. Deandra Dottin finished with nine wickets, joint highest. 

“Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now. Means so much for us and especially the people of the Caribbean,” said Merissa Aguilleira. “Sammy sent us a voice note this morning.”