West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews beamed with pride as she reflected on her team’s stunning nine-wicket victory over India in the second T20 International at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday.

The win not only leveled the three-match series 1-1 but also marked West Indies' first T20I victory over India since the 2016 World Cup—a milestone Matthews believes signals a new chapter for her team.

Following a disappointing performance in the series opener—which they lost by 49 runs—the Caribbean women delivered a complete turnaround, thanks in large part to Matthews’ masterful unbeaten 47-ball 85, complemented by a strong all-round team effort.

Matthews acknowledged the need for this much-improved performance after their lackluster start.

“Yeah, I think we probably knew we weren't up to scratch in that first game and started really slow, and it was definitely something we wanted to turn around today,” Matthews admitted.

“The players with the new ball obviously set the tone. Deandra [Dottin] and Chinelle [Henry], the way they came out, we just tried to take that momentum right through the game,” she added during the post-game press conference.

Matthews, who registered her 15th T20 half-century, delivered a commanding performance as she dispatched 17 boundaries to anchor the run chase. Her dominant innings, combined with Qiana Joseph’s explosive 38 off 22 balls, ensured West Indies reached 160-1 with 26 balls to spare.

“Yeah, I guess it feels pretty good to get some runs and see it right through the innings. It was obviously a pretty important game, wanting to level the series today. So yeah, I'm pretty happy I was able to take it right through the innings and get the win in the end,” Matthews said of her match-winning knock.

Despite the resounding win, Matthews did not shy away from addressing West Indies’ struggles in the field. This as dropped catches—including three reprieves for India’s captain Smriti Mandhana, who top-scored with 62—remain an area of concern.

“I think as a team we certainly want to do better. We’ve probably put down quite a few chances in the last two games, but we are a team that usually has very high fielding standards,” Matthews explained.

“We don’t play under lights as often, but it’s something we need to figure out quickly because we’re playing under lights a lot more these days,” she noted.

When asked about head coach Shane Deitz’s response to the fielding lapses, Matthews revealed that his approach is balanced.

“He doesn’t get too harsh about it, but at the same time he lets us know that it isn’t good enough. We knew within the team that the last match wasn’t the way we want to be losing games. Yesterday (Monday) was a pretty long day going through individual plans, but the hard work showed today,” she stated.

That said, the captain reserved special praise for Qiana Joseph and particularly Deandra Dottin, whose impact in all facets of the game remains crucial to the team’s success.

“She [Dottin] is a game-changer in every single aspect—bat, ball, and field. She can do crazy things, and I’m just happy she’s on my team,” Matthews said with a smile.

“Qiana’s really come into her role over the last few months. She has a clear role to be aggressive and fearless, and she’s doing exactly that. When I’m batting with her, it eases the pressure off me. I just keep encouraging her to go hard because that’s what we want her to do,” she shared.

The significance of beating India in their own backyard—a feat last achieved in 2016—is not lost on Matthews, as she pointed out that it serves as a motivating force ahead of the series decider.

“It’s quite motivating coming down here after the first game and being able to level the series. I think it would mean a lot to the group if we could win this series, but we know we’ve got to come back in a few days and play just as good or even better. This win feels massive, but we want to be consistent with these kinds of performances,” the Barbadian declared.

The series decider is scheduled for Thursday, after which the teams will square off in three ODIs.