Matthews makes it a stroll
Hayley Matthews’ clean striking ripped the contest away from Ireland just when their bowlers had created a sliver of doubt. West Indies Women won by eight wickets with 51 balls remaining, chasing 104 in 11.3 overs after Ireland were bundled out for 103. Ireland’s best chance came early in the chase when they grabbed two wickets in the powerplay, but Matthews’ intent never dipped and the target quickly stopped looking like a contest.
Middle overs blow it open
The decisive phase was West Indies’ middle overs, where the chase went from manageable to inevitable. After 37/2 in the powerplay, Matthews and Stafanie Taylor shut the door with an unbeaten 67-run surge through the middle phase at 12.2 an over (67/0). Ireland’s lengths were repeatedly punished when they missed full, and the pair kept the scoreboard moving even when boundaries dried up briefly, ensuring there was no squeeze.
Joseph’s burst, Matthews’ finish
Qiana Joseph’s 3 for 8 in two overs gave West Indies the early control they needed, forcing Ireland into rebuild mode and keeping new batters under pressure. Matthews then delivered the knockout blow with 82 at a strike rate of 186, while Taylor’s calm support in their 69-run partnership ensured there was no late wobble. Ava Canning’s 2 for 16 was Ireland’s brightest spell, but the target left no margin for error.
Ireland’s innings never settled
With little pre-match guidance on form or matchups, the game hinged on basics: wicket preservation and controlling the middle. Ireland started at 36/3 in the powerplay and never recovered, despite a 44-run stand between Leah Paul and Orla Prendergast that briefly steadied them. The collapse at the back end was fatal: just 3 runs in the death overs as three wickets fell, turning a possible 120-plus total into a chaseable 104.
SASouth Africa W
201/5
IRIreland W
136/3
SASouth Africa W
220/2
IRIreland W
115/10
IRIreland W
155/4
PAPakistan W
156/2
IRIreland W
171/6
PAPakistan W
168/6
IRIreland W
142/10
PAPakistan W
131/9
IRIreland W
180/4
ZIZimbabwe W
129/7
IRIreland W
176/4
ZIZimbabwe W
111/10
IRIreland W
118/4
ZIZimbabwe W
117/9
BABangladesh W
123/7
IRIreland W
124/6
BABangladesh W
87/10
IRIreland W
134/5
IR0WI3WIWest Indies W
61/3
AUAustralia W
211/7
WIWest Indies W
147/4
AUAustralia W
164/5
WIWest Indies W
121/6
AUAustralia W
164/6
WIWest Indies W
119/5
SLSri Lanka W
121/1
WIWest Indies W
101/9
SLSri Lanka W
102/6
WIWest Indies W
148/4
SASouth Africa W
147/6
WIWest Indies W
116/4
SASouth Africa W
113/6
WIWest Indies W
133/6
SASouth Africa W
183/6
ENEngland W
144/5
WIWest Indies W
127/8
ENEngland W
82/1
WIWest Indies W
81/9