Australia Women clinched a series win with an emphatic 8-wicket victory over West Indies Women in the 3rd One Day International (ODI) at Junction Oval. This triumph gave Australia a 2-0 series lead, as the second game was abandoned due to rain.
West Indies Women struggled with the bat, unable to set a competitive target. Rashada Williams was the top scorer with 23 off 71 deliveries, while captain Hayley Matthews contributed 23 off 17. Annabel Sutherland shone for Australia with figures of 3 wickets for 23 runs, followed by Tahlia McGrath with 2 wickets for 10 runs.
In response, Australia’s skipper, Alyssa Healy, led the charge with a brisk 27-ball 32. Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney secured victory in just 15.3 overs.
Tour seen as valuable learning experience
The West Indies Women’s tour was seen as a valuable learning experience, exposing their younger players to different conditions and elite competition. Despite their ODI series setbacks, the T20I series showcased their talent and potential, including a world-record win in the 2nd T20I.
Captain Hayley Matthews expressed the need for more contributions from their batters but acknowledged the challenges of facing the top-ranked Australian side.
Looking ahead, the West Indies Women have an exciting away series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2024. Their primary focus, however, is on the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh next year.
While the tour results may not have favored them, the lessons learned will be crucial for their future development. The journey to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup promises to be an exciting one, with the West Indies Women eager to bounce back stronger.
Match Schedule and Results:
· 1st T20I: Australia won by 8 wickets
· 2nd T20I: West Indies won by 7 wickets
· 3rd T20I: Australia won by 47 runs
· 1st ODI: Australia won by 8 wickets
· 2nd ODI: Match abandoned
· 3rd ODI: Australia won by 8 wickets
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