Matthews Urges WI Women to Overcome Batting Struggles
West Indies Women suffered a 43-run defeat to Australia in the opening T20I at Kingstown, St Vincent. The visitors posted 164 for six, and the hosts managed 121 for six in reply.
Match summary
Australia finished on 164-6 after 20 overs. Beth Mooney top-scored with 83 and Ellyse Perry added 36.
The West Indies had been 76 for one at one stage. They collapsed to 121-6 and lost by 43 runs.
Key moments
- West Indies pacers struck early but the chase stalled in the middle overs.
- Qiana Joseph provided resistance with 45 off 39 balls.
- Stafanie Taylor contributed 28 from 25 deliveries.
Individual figures
| Australia Women | 164-6 (20 overs) |
| Top batters | B. Mooney 83, E. Perry 36 |
| West Indies Women | 121-6 (20 overs) |
| Top batters | Q. Joseph 45, S. Taylor 28, S. Campbelle 15 |
| Notable bowlers (Australia) | A. King 3-14, G. Wareham 2-14 |
| Notable bowlers (West Indies) | D. Dottin 3-35, C. Henry 2-28 |
Captain’s reaction
Hayley Matthews, the West Indies captain, accepted responsibility for the team’s batting woes. She said her personal dip in form has mirrored the side’s recent failures with the bat.
Matthews urged her WI women to confront ongoing batting struggles and find ways to score more consistently. She praised the bowlers for their performance and stressed the need to recover quickly.
Context and outlook
Matthews had returned earlier this year after shoulder surgery in 2025. She said past white-ball defeats to Sri Lanka showed the batting was already below expectations.
The captain called for improvement and resilience. She said it will be important for the team to regroup ahead of the next match.
Report by Filmogaz.com.
