Matthews stars as Royals extend perfect run in Massy Women's Caribbean Premier 2024

by WCPL Friday 23 August 2024

Chinelle Henry (R) of Barbados Royals celebrates with teammates

©CPL T20 via Getty Images

Hayley Matthews showcased her batting prowess once again, guiding the Barbados Royals to a win against Trinbago Knight Riders in the second match of the 2024 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League, held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad.

Match Summary

Trinbago Knight Riders Women vs Barbados Royals Women, Match 2

Trinbago Knight Riders Women 113/9 (20 ov)

Barbados Royals Women 116/3 (17.1 ov)

Barbados Royals Women won by 7 wickets

SCORECARD

Match Analysis

After her decisive innings of 61 not out against Guyana Amazon Warriors in the first game of the competition on Wednesday, Matthews showed again why she is one of the best in the world in the white ball format. The in-form opener struck twelve boundaries to finish unbeaten on 67 off 56 balls to see her side complete a comfortable seven wicket victory with 17 balls to spare.

Matthews started the evening well and never looked back. She won the toss for the second night in a row and chose to insert the opposition, her decision vindicated with the very first ball of the match as Chinelle Henry bowled Knight Riders opener Kycia Knight.

It was a sign of things to come as a procession of wickets fell soon after. The Knight Riders total of 113/9 never looked enough to challenge the Royals stellar batting card and so it proved when Matthews hit the winning four off Shikha Pandey from the first ball of the 18^th over. The 2023 champions have two wins from two games and look the team to beat in the early stages of this year’s WCPL.

The Royals obliterated the Knight Riders top order to leave them reeling on 57/6 at the halfway stage in the innings and it was thanks to Shikha Pandey and Zaida James that the Knight Riders reached the total that they did. A partnership of exactly 50 runs off 47 deliveries for the seventh wicket helped Deandra Dottin’s side bat out their allotted overs and post a total of 113/9.

Pandey, in particular played, well, top scoring for her side with 30 runs, her deft cuts and manipulation of the ball into the gaps was impressive in the face of tight bowling.

Matthews took a fine diving catch in the outfield and topped off a sparkling Player of the Match performance by bowling both Zaida James and Jazhara Claxton to take 2-21 with the ball.

For the second match in a row the Royals bowlers impressed and shared the wickets around, Henry, Matthews and Wellington all picking up two wickets apiece and Qiana Joseph and Aaliyah Alleyne pocketing one each. The Barbados side are firing in all departments.

Match Stats

Trinbago Knight Riders Women Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Kycia Knight - 0.1 ov), 2-14 (Harshitha Samarawickrama - 2.3 ov), 3-28 (Jemimah Rodrigues - 4.2 ov), 4-31 (Jess Jonassen - 5.4 ov), 5-37 (Chedean Nation - 7.4 ov), 6-57 (Deandra Dottin - 9.6 ov), 7-107 (Shikha Pandey - 17.4 ov), 8-107 (Zaida James - 18.1 ov), 9-111 (Jahzara Claxton - 18.6 ov)

Barbados Royals Women Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Chamari Atapattu - 1.5 ov), 2-75 (Qiana Joseph - 11.2 ov), 3-88 (Aaliyah Alleyne - 14.3 ov)