Windies women eye consistency after ODI series win over Bangladesh
Having secured a confidence-boosting 2-1 ODI series win over Bangladesh, West Indies Women's head coach Shane Deitz and captain Hayley Matthews are hoping the team can build on their momentum in the upcoming T20 series and address key areas of improvement as they set their sights on the more important World Cup qualifiers.
In fact, Deitz was quick to point out that the team remains focused on delivering consistent, disciplined performances to achieve their ultimate goal, following an eight-wicket win in the series decider at Warner Park in St. Kitts on Friday.
Led by a stellar bowling performance from spinner Karishma Ramharack, who registered career-best figures of 4-12, the Windies restricted Bangladesh to a modest 118. Contributions from Qiana Joseph (39), Deandra Dottin (33 not out), Shemaine Campbelle (25 not out), and Matthews (22) then sealed the chase with ease.
“Yeah, good win. Players played pretty well for most of the games. Obviously, the second game we didn’t perform as we wanted to with the bat, so we’re a bit disappointed we didn’t win 3-0. But a 2-1 series win is good, and we take a bit of momentum into the T20s starting next week,” Deitz said.
The batting department, which has often relied heavily on Matthews, saw other players stepping up in the series, which was a welcome return for the coach.
“Qiana played two good innings this series, and obviously Deandra’s power—we all know about that. Minnie [Shemaine Campbelle] played a good anchor innings, so that was pleasing. But we need to see more of it, more often," Deitz remarked.
Matthews echoed the sentiment, as she too highlighted the importance of team contributions.
“Yeah, it was a great opportunity for us to see some of the other girls as well. Getting Shemaine and Deandra out in the middle, spending some time together—it was great to see. The way they went about it, too, so aggressively, really stamping their authority in those final few overs,” she said.
To address the batting concerns, Deitz pointed to upcoming regional cricket as a key preparation phase for the World Cup qualifiers, as he stressed their push for consistency.
“In the qualifiers, you can’t afford to have one bad day. We’ve got to be more consistent and disciplined for the whole qualifier. Our goal is to win every game, and the qualification process will take care of itself then. But we’ve got to be consistent for 100 overs in each game,” he stated.
“We’ll work on some things there (regional games) to make sure the girls come out with good form. We’ve played two series in the last two months, so we’re now in ODI mode. We’ll review this series, see what worked well, and take those things into the next series and qualifiers," Deitz added.
On that note, Deitz lauded Matthews, who was named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year.
“She gets into everybody’s team all the time, so there’s no surprise. We know how awesome she is with the bat, ball, and in the field. She’s one of the best players in the world, and we’re pleased for her to get those personal accolades. But I know she’s determined to win games for West Indies and lead us into the World Cup,” he stated.
Matthews, in turn, praised Ramharack for her outstanding bowling performance as well as the all-round experience that Dottin brings to the team.
“She [Ramharack] was trying to be a bit humble there, but obviously, she’s someone who loves doing well and works so hard to do well, too. So it was good to see her finally reap some rewards this series, especially,” Matthews shared.
“Deandra obviously adds a whole new dimension to our team. She’s one of the most destructive people, not just in the West Indies but in the world as a whole. Not many people can hit a ball like Deandra Dottin. Just having her up your sleeve means she can change any game from any situation, and she is just a wonderful all-rounder to have within his side,” Matthews noted.