In a final match that was high on individual brilliance but low on series impact, West Indies Women produced a dominant performance to defeat Sri Lanka Women by six wickets in the third and final One Day International at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
Despite the victory, the hosts succumbed 2-1 in the three-match series.
The day belonged to West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who delivered a Player-of-the-Match winning knock, scoring a magnificent 100 to anchor a successful run-chase of 218.
It was a statement performance from the skipper, who ensured her team ended the series on a high note.
Earlier, Sri Lanka Women opted to bat first but were immediately put on the back foot.
Matthews struck with the ball in her very first over, trapping the dangerous Chamari Athapaththu lbw for a duck.
Despite the early setback, Harshitha Samarawickrama played a sublime knock, holding the innings together with a well-crafted 70.
She found support from Hasini Perera, who chipped in with 27 and Vishmi Gunaratne, 26, but the West Indies bowlers maintained a stranglehold on the scoring rate.
Kavisha Dilhari provided a late surge with an unbeaten 45, pushing the visitors to a competitive total of 217 for seven from their 50 overs.
Matthews finished with economical figures of two for 33, while off-spinner Karishma Ramharack also chipped in with two crucial wickets.
In reply, the West Indies chase got off to a rocky start. Matthews watched from the non-striker’s end as her top order crumbled, losing Qiana Joseph for two and Shemaine Campbelle for six ball duck, inside the first four overs to leave the score reeling at 12 for two.
What followed was a masterclass in rebuilding. Matthews was joined by the experienced Stafanie Taylor, and together they weathered the storm and then dismantled the Sri Lankan attack.
The pair put on a monumental 124-run partnership for the third wicket, shifting the momentum decisively in the home team’s favour.
During her innings of 38, Taylor reached a monumental personal milestone, becoming only the second player in history to surpass 6000 runs in Women’s ODI cricket.
Her steady presence allowed Matthews to play her natural game, eventually bringing up her 10th ODI century, a testament to her dominance in the format.
After Taylor’s departure, Chinelle Henry, with a brisk 32 not out, and the explosive Deandra Dottin, with an unbeaten 24 not out, finished the job with an unbeaten 49-run stand, guiding the West Indies to 218 for four with four overs to spare.
While the victory was a morale booster for the home side, the post-match presentations reflected the series result.
Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Samarawickrama was adjudged Player-of-the-Series for her consistent performances with the bat.
For the West Indies, the final match offered a glimpse of their potential and a reminder of their class as they now turn their attention to their more familiar format, the T20 series.
(CMC)
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