Australia’s tour of West Indies kicked off with the visitors showing exactly why they are the team to beat, though it wasn’t all smooth sailing in St Vincent. After a bit of a shaky start, Beth Mooney played a typical class knock, anchoring the innings with a composed 79. She found a reliable partner in Ellyse Perry, and together they dragged the Aussies to a very competitive 164. The West Indies didn’t just roll over, though—Deandra Dottin reminded everyone of her X-factor by snaring three wickets to trigger a late collapse. However, the chase never really got out of second gear. Despite a fighting 45 from Qiana Joseph, Alana King tore through the middle order with a clinical 3-for-14, leaving the hosts 43 runs short and giving Australia a 1-0 lead.
Squads:
West Indies Women’s Cricket Team
Hayley Matthews, Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Eboni Brathwaite, Shemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Shawnisha Hector, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Zaida James
Australia Women’s Cricket Team
Sophie Molineux, Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, Tahlia Wilson
Players to watch out:
Beth Mooney
Beth proved exactly why she is considered one of the most reliable anchors in the world during the first T20I at Kingstown. After a somewhat tentative start where Australia found themselves two wickets down early, she took complete control of the game, finishing with a match-winning 79 off 55 balls. Her ability to shift gears after the drinks break was remarkable, turning a run-a-ball start into a strike rate of over 140 and ensuring the visitors posted a target that was well out of reach for the hosts.
Qiana Joseph
Qiana was a major bright spot for West Indies in an otherwise difficult chase, providing a fearless response at the top of the order. She played with great intent from the outset, top scoring for her side with a fluent 45 off 39 deliveries that included seven boundaries and a towering six. Even when wickets were tumbling at the other end, her poise against the Australian pace attack kept the Windies in the hunt during the first ten overs, further cementing her spot as a key aggressive option for the Caribbean side.
Alana King
Alana’s return to the T20I setup was nothing short of a statement, as she effectively broke the back of West Indies run chase. Her spell was a display of pure leg-spin artistry, finishing with incredible figures of 3 for 14 across her four overs and maintaining an economy rate of just 3.50. The way she dismissed Hayley Matthews and then followed up with a double strike to remove Shemaine Campbelle and Deandra Dottin in the same over completely shifted the momentum and killed off any hopes of a home victory.
Deandra Dottin
Deandra showed that her competitive fire is as strong as ever, making an immediate impact with the ball by removing Georgia Voll in the very second over of the match. She ended up as the pick of West Indies bowlers, claiming 3 for 35 and consistently breaking dangerous partnerships, most notably dismissing both Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry to halt a late-innings surge. While she missed out with the bat this time around, her ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs in the death overs remains a massive asset for this team.
Pitch:
The surface at Arnos Vale Ground is traditionally known for its slow and balanced nature, often making it a tactical battleground rather than a high-scoring paradise. While there is some initial pace and bounce for the seamers, the deck tends to flatten out and dry as the match progresses, significantly bringing spinners into play.
Weather:
Expect a pleasant, sunny day in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with a high of 27°C and a low of 25°C. The conditions promise a complete and uninterrupted game of cricket.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Hayley Matthews, Chinelle Henry, Deandra Dottin, Qiana Joseph, Stafanie Taylor, Sophie Molineux, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry
Match Details:
Date – March 22, 2026
Time – 4:00 AM IST
Venue – Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent, West Indies
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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