Matthews, Taylor help Windies women seal series over Ireland

West Indies Women defeated Ireland Women by six wickets in their second ODI match to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Captain Hayley Matthews scored 100 off 94 deliveries and was named Player of the Match, while Stafanie Taylor made an unbeaten 100 off 105 deliveries as the Windies chased down Ireland’s 241 for seven with ease as they reached 242 for four in 38.5 overs.

After losing Realeanna Grimmond for a duck in the first over, West Indies Women bounced back through a brilliant 158-run partnership between Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor.

The pair scored at more than six runs per over, putting the team in a strong position and continuing the excellent batting form they showed in their record-breaking run chase in the first ODI.

Matthews reached her half-century with a six and went on to score her 13th ODI century from 94 balls, at this point, Taylor was only 47 runs in.

She dominated the partnership, hitting 14 fours and two sixes before being dismissed for exactly 100, leaving the West Indies well placed at 159 for 2 after 26 overs.

Ireland briefly fought back by dismissing Deandra Dottin and Jannillea Glasgow for nine runs each, but West Indies still needed only 43 runs from 94 deliveries.

Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle joined forces to add an unbeaten 43-run partnership to secure a victory with 67 balls remaining.

Taylor completed her 10th ODI century by smacking a four and a six back to back before a no-ball sealed the win.

Earlier, Amy Hunter and Rebecca Stokell both scored half-centuries for Ireland, but a lower-order collapse limited their total.

Ireland had recovered after early wickets from Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews reduced them to 74 for 3, with Matthews dismissing the key batter Orla Prendergast and Dottin accounting for openers Sarah Forbes and captain Gaby Lewis.

Hunter and Stokell added a 106-run partnership to revive Ireland’s innings taking them to 180 for three after 40 overs, but after both women were dismissed, the lower order collapsed and the team lost momentum.

Ireland finished on 241 for 7, with Deandra Dottin taking 2 wickets for 15 runs and Hayley Matthews claiming 2 for 34 for West Indies.