Hayley Matthews delivered a match-winning spell with the new ball as West Indies beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at the County Ground, Bristol, on 21 June, securing their third consecutive victory of the tournament. Matthews, who was named Player of the Match, removed three Sri Lankan top-order batters inside the opening three overs to set the tone for a dominant Caribbean performance.

Matthews' Decisive Spell with the New Ball

The West Indies captain scalped three wickets in her first two overs, leaving Sri Lanka's batting unit in disarray before the full bowling attack wrapped them up for just 98. Matthews said the plan had been clear from the outset: strike early, strike hard.

'I had the opportunity to start things off with the ball, and yeah, I felt like I wanted to hopefully get the team off to a really good start, and we knew early wickets were going to be crucial against a team like Sri Lanka. The wicket really favoured the spin style of bowling a lot. Thankfully I was able to put it on the spot and get a couple early on,' she said at the post-match presentation.

Why West Indies Fielded Four Spinners

Conditions at Bristol shaped West Indies' selection strategy significantly. The side opted to field four spinners, handing off-spinner Ashmini Munisar her first appearance of the tournament. Matthews explained the decision was driven by Sri Lanka's batting composition, which features several left-handers — a lineup that off-spin can exploit to considerable effect.

'Looking at the lineup of Sri Lanka, they do have a lot of left-handers within their side. And we felt like someone like Ashmini could make a massive difference with her off-spin and the way she bowls. So she came in today and performed wonderfully as well,' Matthews said, adding praise for the youngster's composure on her World Cup debut.

Chase Completed Despite Middle-Order Wobble

Chasing a modest target of 99, West Indies lost five wickets before getting over the line with nearly four overs to spare. Stafanie Taylor steadied the innings after a brief middle-order wobble. Matthews was unfazed by the wickets lost, insisting the dressing room remained composed throughout.

'It's okay. At the end of the day, we got over the line. I don't feel like there was any point in time where we thought we weren't going to get any runs. Yes, we lost five wickets, but we were still in a very comfortable position throughout the innings,' she said.

A Personal Moment for Matthews

The Player of the Match award carried an added layer of meaning for the West Indies skipper. Her father was once again in the stands at Bristol to watch her lead the side, and Matthews acknowledged the moment with characteristic warmth.

'He's always here at the ground supporting. So yeah, good that I could get one in front of him,' she said.

With three wins from three games, West Indies are firmly in control of their campaign and will look to carry this momentum into the knockout stages of the tournament.