Windies stun Aussies to claim maiden women’s T20 crown

KOLKATA, April 3, 2016 (AFP) – Powerful half-centuries from Hayley Matthews and skipper Stafanie Taylor fired the West Indies to their maiden women’s World Twenty20 crown in a thrilling last-over win against Australia in Sunday’s final in Kolkata.

Chasing a competitive 149 for a win against the three-time champions, West Indies rode a blistering 120-run opening stand between Matthews (66) and Taylor (59) to triumph with three balls to spare.

The Windies won by eight wickets at the Eden Gardens stadium as they picked up their first win against Australia at their ninth attempt.

“Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now. Means so much for us and especially the people of the Caribbean,” said Windies wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira.

Player of the match Matthews and Taylor, who looked determined from the word go, acquired 16 runs off the sixth over, including a humongous six from Matthews.

A destructive Matthews clobbered three sixes and six boundaries during her 45-ball blitz that made the Aussie bowling attack appear pedestrian.

Taylor played a more sedate but commanding innings to lead the Windies to an historic title after three previous failed semi-final attempts.

Leg-spinner Kristen Beams got Mathews caught at mid-wicket in the 16th over and 18 balls later Rene Farrell saw the back of Taylor but the wickets only proved to be minor hiccups on the Windies’ road to victory.

Wild celebrations erupted from the Caribbean dugout as Britney Cooper hit the winning runs to script a new chapter in Windies women’s cricket.

The Caribbean women danced with their male counterparts, who play England in the men’s final later on Sunday.

The West Indies men can now complete a rare hat-trick after the Under-19 boys lifted the youth World Cup in February.

Earlier after electing to bat, skipper Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani helped Australia post 148 for five against a sloppy West Indies fielding display.

The Aussies lost opener Alyssa Healy early but a 77-run second wicket partnership between Lanning (52) and Villani (52) set the tone for a formidable score.

Villani’s 37-ball knock was laced with nine fours as she and Lanning were helped by some shoddy West Indies fielding as captain Taylor juggled seven bowlers.

Medium-pacer Deandra Dottin was the pick of the Windies bowlers with two wickets, those of Villani and Ellyse Perry, the latter of whom chipped in with 28 runs off 23 balls including the only two sixes of the Aussie innings.

“Full credit to the West Indies they came out with the bat, did not quite get the result we wanted,” Lanning said afterwards.