Matthews powers Warriors Women to Fairbreak title

A breath-taking century and a tidy bowling spell from West Indies Women’s Captain, Hayley Matthews spurred Warriors Women to the Fairbreak Invitational title with a convincing 93-run win against Falcons Women.

Matthews blasted 11 fours and 9 sixes in 123 from 52 balls and was rock upon which Warriors built a challenging total of 230 for 4 from their allocated 20 overs in the final at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

She returned to bag two for 14 from three overs with her flighty off-spin, making her perfect for the Player-of-the-March award and enabling the Warriors to restrict the Falcons to 137 for eight in their 20 overs.

It was the second time in less than a month that Matthews was part of the winning side in a global women’s Twenty20 tournament. She played a starring role in Mumbai Indians woman winning the inaugural Women’s Premier League, when she was voted Most Valuable Player.

Matthews was the glue that held the Warriors innings together after they were sent in to bat. She dominated all four stands of which including a 68-run stand for the third wicket with South African Mignon du Perez.

When Matthews was dismissed in the 15th over, Warriors were 155 for four, and Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce struck 8 fours and 2 sixes in 52 from 20 balls leading up to the closing overs. Bryce shared an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 75 with her captain Sindhu Sriharsha of the United States, who was not out on 25.

Falcons got off to a good start, with England International Danni Wyatt and Sri Lanka women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu goin at 10 runs an over. Wyatt was caught behind off Bryce for 20 and Athapaththu went in similar fashion to Matthews.

Falcon captain Suzie Bates, the former New Zealand women’s captain, made 25 and United Arab Emirates international Theertha Satish got 29 and tried to to keep up with the imposing run rate.

West Indies Women’s pacer Shamilia Connell failed to take a wicket for Warriors in two overs that cost 22.