Skipper Hayley Matthews led her Barbados pride Women’s team to a historic victory in its opening
match of the 2022 Commonwealth Games cricket tournament. The Barbados Women defeated
Pakistan by 15 runs. Matthews led from the front striking a 51 balls half-century (50) when the
Bajans batted. She was well supported by her West Indies Women’s teammate West Indies
teammate who top-scored with an unbeaten 62 off 56 balls. Knight, with 64 T20 Internationals behind her name, hit nine fours while Matthews counted four fours and a six. The two West Indies internationals provided the backbone of Barbados’ posted 20 overs total of 144-4.
In reply, Nida Dar struck a valiant unbeaten 50 off 31 balls. She lacked support from her teammates,
however, as the Pakistan Women came up short at 129-6 to give Barbados victory by 15 runs.
Featuring seven West Indies players in their ranks, Barbados was always going to be a handful and so they proved, rattling up a strong total to put Pakistan under pressure. They lost Deandra Dottin cheaply for eight in the first over but Knight and Matthews consolidated well in an outstanding second-wicket stand worth 107
The buoyant Barbadians were, however, brought back down to
earth suffering a crushing nine wickets loss to tournament favourites
Australia in their second match of the tournament. Taking first strike
after having been sent in to bat, the Bajans were skittled out for just
64 with captain Hayley Matthews 18 as the top core. Alana King
4-8, Tahlia McGrath 3-13 and Ashleigh Gardner were Australia
wicket-takers.
Set a paltry 65 for victory in 20 overs the Australians required only
9 overs (8.1) to easily reached their target for the loss of just 1 wicket.
Meg Lanning 36* and Alyssa Healey 23* combined in an unbroken
second-wicket partnership to see the Aussies home.
Barbados was scheduled to play India on August 3rd in their third
and final match of the tournament’s Preliminary Roun