In what was only the second match of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2025, cricket fans were treated to a spectacle that underlined the intensity and caliber of the tournament. While Scotland managed to clinch a hard-fought 11-run victory over West Indies at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground, it was Hayley Matthews’ breathtaking all-round performance that stole the spotlight.
With six teams battling for a prized spot in the ICC Women’s World Cup, every match in the qualifier carries immense weight and this one was no different. Matthews, the West Indies skipper, stood tall amidst the pressure, delivering a masterclass that will be etched in the memory of cricket lovers for years to come.
After winning the toss, Matthews backed her bowlers by opting to field first, and she led by example with a commanding spell that rattled Scotland’s top order.
The Scottish openers, Abbi Aitken Drummond and Darcey Carter, got off to a flying start with a 48-run stand off just 68 balls, but Matthews halted their momentum by removing Drummond with a sharp caught-behind. She struck again in the 14th over, dismissing Scottish skipper Katherine Bryce in identical fashion, before sending back Carter in the 16th, triggering a collapse that saw Scotland stumble to 69/3.
Just as Scotland looked to recover through a composed half-century from Sarah Bryce, Matthews returned to remove her in the 34th over, finishing with excellent figures of 4/56 in her full quota of 10 overs. Her incisive bowling performance not only broke key partnerships but also set the tone for a tightly contested encounter.
However, Matthews’ remarkable performance didn’t end with the ball, her batting effort was nothing short of heroic. Chasing 245, West Indies lost opener Qiana Joseph for a duck, but Matthews held her nerve and took charge of the innings. She stitched together a crucial 113-run partnership with Zaida James, anchoring the chase with fluency and calm under pressure.
But as wickets began to tumble around her, Matthews found herself fighting a lone battle. After James’ dismissal, things unravelled quickly. West Indies slipped from 120/2 to 192/6 by the 39th over, and with Matthews on 95 and visibly struggling with cramps, she was forced to retire hurt in the next over. Her absence was brief, just six balls later, after Afy Fletcher was dismissed for a duck, Matthews returned to the crease. She struck a boundary to move to 99 but collapsed in agony and had to be stretchered off the field once again.
Yet in a display of sheer willpower, she returned to the crease once more after West Indies lost their ninth wicket, brought up her century, and continued to fight even as the match slipped away. With just 13 runs needed and one wicket in hand, her partner Aaliyah Alleyne was dismissed in the 47th over, ending West Indies’ valiant chase.
Matthews remained unbeaten on 114 off 113 balls, including 14 boundaries, a knock defined by grace, resilience, and unwavering determination in the face of physical adversity.
Despite finishing on the losing side, Hayley Matthews delivered a performance for the ages, one that not only dazzled on the field but also rewrote the record books. She became the first captain in the 52-year history of women’s ODIs to score 90 or more runs and take four or more wickets in the same match, a feat never achieved by any skipper before.
In doing so, Matthews also became just the fourth woman overall to record this rare double in ODIs, joining an elite club of all-round greats. Her record-breaking spree didn’t stop there, she became the second youngest and second-fastest player to score nine ODI centuries, trailing only Australia’s Meg Lanning on both fronts.
Additionally, by bringing up her hundred against Scotland, Matthews equaled Lanning and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates for scoring centuries against the most different teams in women’s ODIs, seven in total, further solidifying her place among the game’s modern greats.
(Stat credits: Hypocaust)
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