Hayley Matthews and Welsh Fire teammates celebrate a wicket.
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West Indies captain Hayley Matthews produced another all-round masterclass to fire Welsh Fire into the knockout stages of The Hundred women’s tournament following a comprehensive nine-wicket win over cellar dwellers Southern Brave at the Utilita Bowl on Wednesday.
Matthews, who has been enjoying superb form for the Welsh Fire, was again on song, as she captured 4-14 in 20 balls to restrict Southern Brave to 103 before hammering an unbeaten 26-ball 35 to get her franchise across the line at 106-1 with 26 balls to spare. Captain Tammy Beaumont was also left unbeaten as she topscored with 59 off 40 deliveries.
With the win, Welsh Fire are now in a strong position, due to their superior net run rate, to finish in top spot and qualify automatically for the Hundred final at Lord's on Sunday. Oval Invincibles require a convincing win over Trent Rockets on Wednesday afternoon to leapfrog them.
Scores: Southern Brave 103 all out (100 balls); Welsh Fire 106-1 (74 balls)
“I think we've been really good. When you look at our line-up, we've got a lot of experience, and we've played on that really well,” Matthews said in a post-game interview.
“The bowlers have done a really good job at making sure we don't have to chase too big of a total. I think it's been a complete team performance, and that's where we've performed really well; everyone's been chipping in and playing their role,” she added.
After Beaumont inserted Southern Brave at the toss, Matthews dismissed the in-form Danni Wyatt (two), caught at deep midwicket, before Smriti Mandhana (one) departed four balls later to the pace of Shabnim Ismail to leave the Brave 15 for 2 at the end of the PowerPlay.
Whatever hopes Southern Brave had of repairing the damage were dashed when Jess Jonassen had Georgia Adams (six) stumped. Maia Bouchier (10) was Matthews’ second scalp, brilliantly caught by Phoebe Franklin in the deep, before Freya Kemp (two) knicked one behind to give Jonassen her second wicket.
Matthews got her third when she bowled Naomi Dattani (two) and then completed her allotment with the scalp of Kalea Moore (zero), as Southern Brave were in totters at 47 for 7.
Chloe Tyron was the only bright spark of the innings, as she posted an aggressive 38-ball 55, including seven fours and a solitary six at the backend, as she dominated a 52-run eight-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby (15).
Matthews’ haul was supported by Jess Jonassen (3-21) and Freya Davies (2-14).
Despite losing Sophia Dunkley (seven) to Lauren Bell early, the result was never in doubt for Welsh Fire, as Beaumont was especially strong on anything loose, working the field with sweeps and cuts, while Matthews picked the gaps behind square in a 72-run stand off a mere 54 balls.
Beaumont raised her half-century in just 31 balls in a knock that had 10 boundaries, while the Barbadian, Matthews, struck five boundaries in her knock as Welsh Fire continue to blaze heading into the business end of the tournament.
Just not interested: Russell says money not the reason why players avoid Test cricket
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has made it clear that, contrary to popular belief, financial incentives are by no means the main reason why some Caribbean players don’t play Test cricket. To put it bluntly, they are just not interested.
The topic has been one floating around for some time, as it became clear that players, like Russell, are more drawn to Twenty20 cricket by the lucrative lure of popular leagues around the world and, as such, have shied away from the game’s longest format.
It again came to the fore late last year, when Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran, and Kyle Mayers turned down West Indies central contracts but made themselves available for T20 internationals.
In fact, earlier this year, both Holder and Mayers declined to take up spots in the West Indies team for the Test series against Australia, opting to pursue T20 opportunities instead. However, Holder has since made a return to the Test squad.
With speculations rife that T20s monetary payout has affected their commitment to Test cricket, Russell sought to clear the air on the matter.
“I don't think it's the money; I don't think money is the issue. Based on the number of T20 leagues around the world, I think a lot of players are just not interested in playing Tests,” Russell said in a recent interview with the Press Association.
His remarks come as West Indies currently sit at the bottom of the nine-team World Test Championship table after being swept 3-0 by England in a recent series. They have since secured a stalemate in the first Test of their ongoing series against South Africa.
Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Pooran, Rovman Powell, and Kieron Pollard were among the West Indians playing in The Hundred when the last Test against England was being played in late July. Among the highest-paid players in the league, they are still playing The Hundred as the series against South Africa heads into the second contest.
Though Pollard, Powell, and Pooran have never played Test cricket, Russell played one in 2010. Hetmyer has played 16 games, the last of which was in 2019.
“Red-ball cricket is not my cookie; I don't think my body will keep up with Test cricket,” Russell declared as he alluded to the rigorous schedule and the physical and mental toll Test cricket takes on a player.
“I'm always excited watching the other West Indian batters, especially when they're hitting boundary after boundary. As long as you can do well from contracts outside your nation, I think they are going to grab that opportunity, but everyone wants to play on the big stage. So, if the big stage comes in Test cricket, I know youngsters will be happy to play. I just don't think it's about money or anything like that,” he added.
Russell, known for his explosive performances in limited-overs formats and his significant contributions to the West Indies team, has long been a pivotal figure in international cricket.
Now 36, Russell has managed to stay at the top of his game in white-ball cricket, but it was not without hard work and sacrifice. He overcame a series of injuries over the years, the last of which was a knee injury that forced him out of the 2019 ODI World Cup after a few games.
“Red-ball cricket is not my cookie; I don't think my body will keep up with Test cricket,” Russell stressed.
“But those in the team at the moment are fit enough and taking on the challenge. They had a few moments in the Test series [against England] where they could have turned things around. Playing England at home is always going to be hard for the West Indies,” he noted.
Stokes ruled out of England's Sri Lanka Test through injury
Ben Stokes has been ruled out of England's upcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka after tearing his left hamstring while playing in The Hundred on Sunday.
Stokes pulled up after running a single and was carried off the field before later being seen on crutches after appearing for the Northern Superchargers.
Originally thought to be a doubt for the first of England's Tests later this month, scans on Tuesday revealed the injury will keep him out for the remainder of the summer.
Ollie Pope will take over Stokes' role as captain during his absence, with the all-rounder aiming to return to fitness before their Test tour of Pakistan in October.
England will also be without opener Zak Crawley for the Sri Lanka series due to a finger injury he sustained against the West Indies at Edgbaston.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have appointed Ian Bell as their batting coach for the upcoming tour.
Bell, who played in 118 Tests for England between 2004 and 2015, will work under former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya.
"We appointed Ian to bring in a person with local knowledge to help the players with key insights on the conditions there," Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva said.
"We believe his input will help our team in this crucial tour."
The first Test in the series will take place at Old Trafford in Manchester on August 21.
2024 SDC National Community T20 Cricket competition Super 8 officially launched
The SDC National Community T20 Cricket competition Super 8 was officially launched at Chedwin Park in St. Catherine last Saturday, August 10th.
The start of the Super 8 (knockout stage) was delayed by a few weeks due to the devastation suffered to parts of the island following the passage of Hurricane Beryl.
As a result, teams participating in this phase of the competition now face a win-or-go scenario which is different from previous years.
Dr. Dwayne Vernon, Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC) explained the need for the change this year.
“Normally we would have a playoff, which is an intermediary round between the quarterfinals and the semifinals, so historically what would happen is that the best winners from the quarterfinals would automatically go to the semifinals and then the other teams would have played off to ensure which ones would get the right to play in the semifinals,” he said.
“What we have done this year, because we are strapped for time…is that we have eliminated the playoff round. Teams that win at the quarterfinals will automatically go to the semifinals. There will be no playoffs, just for this year. We want to end at least one week before back to school,” he added.
Kerry-Ann Bryan, Brand Manager at Wray & Nephew spoke of the long-standing partnership between her company and the SDC T20 Cricket competition.
“Wray & Nephew is proud to be a part of this long-standing tradition of community development through sport. Over 17 years we have seen much growth in participation, community comradery and development, all elements for which the SDC has been a stalwart champion.”
Bryan also spoke of the power of the sport in uniting communities across the island while assuring of her brand support through the remainder of the competition.
“Cricket for many Jamaicans is more than a game, it has the power to unite us, transcend boundaries and build a sense of camaraderie. It embodies the values of teamwork, discipline and fair play which are essential not only to the field but also in communities which we all call home,” she said.
“This competition is not just about cricket, it’s about empowering communities, encouraging social growth and nurturing the talents that align within our neighborhoods. As a proud sponsor of this competition, I can assure you that our brand will be right there cheering for every player, encouraging every team and celebrating every triumph,” she added.
In the first quarterfinal on Saturday, Whitehouse from Westmoreland beat Richmond Park from Kingston and St. Andrew by six runs. Whitehouse scored 155/6 from their 20 overs before bowling out Richmond Park for 149 in 19.3 overs.
In the second quarterfinal, Junction skittled out Troy for a mere 43 runs before they eased to victory
at 44/1.
The other two quarterfinals were played at the same venue on Sunday. In the first match on Sunday, Fairfield beat Bridgeport by 18 runs. Fairfield made 145 in exactly 20 overs before they restricted Bridgeport to 127/9 from their 20 overs.
The final quarterfinal was reduced to 15 overs due to rain. In their turn at bat, Gayle managed 107/4 and in reply Links made 108/3 from 13.3 overs to win by 7 wickets.
The semifinals will be played at the Ultimate Oval in St. Ann on Sunday, August 18.
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