West Indies 138 for 4 (Aguilleira 32*, Ranaweera 2-27) beat Sri Lanka 136 (Mendis 34, Matthews 3-18, Taylor 3-24, Fletcher 3-42) by six wickets
The spin combination of Hayley Matthews, Afy Fletcher and Stafanie Taylorworked through Sri Lanka’s batting order to set up a six-wicket victory for West Indies in the first match between the two – which counts for points in the ICC Women’s Championship – in Tarouba. Sri Lanka’s batting floundered against the three, who picked three apiece, as they collapsed from 63 for 1 to 136 all out.
Sri Lanka lost their first wicket in the 12th over after opener Nipuni Hansikawas struck on the pads by legspinner Fletcher. Yasoda Mendis and Chamari Atapattu set up a 41-run second-wicket partnership, but Matthews’ charge removed both the batsmen before they could build on their starts. She also dismissed the No. 5 Prasadani Weerakkody for 8.
Taylor and Fletcher scythed through the rest of the order as Sri Lanka fell away quickly.
West Indies were off to a shaky start as they lost Kycia Knight and Taylor inside the first five overs. After Matthews retired hurt on 22, Chedean Nation and Deandra Dottin kept the chase ticking along before slow left-armer Inoka Ranaweera removed both of them. However, Merissa Aguilleira (32 of 48 balls) and Kyshona Knight (21 off 36 balls) finished the job over the next ten overs.
Matthews was named the Player of the Match for her spell of 10-2-18-3.
