2nd T20I: Hayley Matthews Shines Bright as West Indies Women Defeat India by Nine Wickets

Navi Mumbai, Dec 17 (NationPress) An impressive all-round effort from skipper Hayley Matthews, who struck an unbeaten 85 runs along with taking 2 wickets for 36 runs, propelled the West Indies Women to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over the Indian Women, with 26 balls remaining, in the second match of the Women's T20I series at Dr. D.Y. Patil Sports Academy on Tuesday. This victory equalized the series at 1-1 after India had won the opening match on Sunday.
Hayley Matthews dazzled with a score of 85 not out, hitting 17 fours in her 47-ball innings, as the West Indies easily chased down the target, finishing at 160 for 1 in 15.4 overs. The West Indies' successful chase was supported by a strong bowling performance from Chinelle Henry (2-37), Deandra Dottin (2-14), Hayley Matthews (2-36), and Afy Fletcher (2-28), which restricted India to 159 for 9.
In their pursuit of 160 runs, the West Indies women had a solid start, with Matthews and Qiana Joseph forming a partnership of 66 runs for the opening wicket in just seven overs. Qiana contributed 38 runs off 28 balls, including six fours and two sixes, before being caught behind by Richa Ghosh off Saima Thakor.
Matthews then teamed up with Shemaine Campbelle to build an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 94 runs, leading the West Indies to a commanding win. Campbelle finished with 29 runs off 26 balls while Matthews reached her half-century in just 31 balls, continuing her dominant performance.
Earlier in the match, batting first, the Indian women lost opener Uma Chetry for just 4 runs with the team at six, bowled out by Dottin with a delivery that sharply nipped back in.
Jemimah Rodrigues (13) and Raghvi Bist (5) also fell quickly, leaving India at 48 for 3 in the ninth over. However, Mandhana and Deepti Sharma (17 off 15) added 66 runs for the fourth wicket, lifting the score to 104. In this effort, Smriti Mandhana scored 62 runs off 37 balls, following up her 54 runs from the previous match.
After Mandhana was dismissed by Hayley Matthews, Deepti Sharma also fell quickly. Richa Ghosh contributed 32 runs as the Indian tail struggled to add significant runs, resulting in a total that was ultimately insufficient for the win.
Brief scores:
India Women: 159/9 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 62, Richa Ghosh 32; Chinelle Henry 2-37, Deandra Dottin 2-14, Hayley Matthews 2-36, Afy Fletcher 2-28) lost to West Indies Women: 160/1 in 15.4 overs (Hayley Matthews 85 not out, Qiana Joseph 38; Saima Thakor 1-28) by nine wickets.