Matthews masterclass helps WI crush Ireland in opening ODI

Hayley Matthews followed up her three-wicket haul with an unbeaten 159 as West Indies eased to a nine-wicket win over Ireland in the opening ODI at Bready, chasing down 270 with 68 balls to spare. Matthews shared a record 258-run opening stand with Realeanna Grimmond (91), the highest partnership for any wicket for West Indies Women in ODIs, as the visitors took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Ireland recovered from the early run-out of Sarah Forbes through Amy Hunter, who anchored the innings with 96 after adding 69 with Orla Prendergast (30) for the third wicket and 50 with Rebecca Stokell (20) for the fourth. At 196 for 3, the hosts looked set for a bigger total before Matthews (3 for 52) and Afy Fletcher (4 for 49) triggered a collapse. Hunter fell four short of a hundred as Ireland lost five wickets for 36 runs. It took Louise Little's 27 to lift them to 269.

West Indies made a flying start and the target never looked out of reach. Matthews reached a 90-ball century while Grimmond brought up her ODI fifty, the pair steadily pulling Ireland out of the contest. Their partnership surpassed the previous West Indies Women's record of 204 before Grimmond fell for 91 with only 12 runs left.

Matthews remained unbeaten on 159 off 123 balls, the second-highest individual score for West Indies Women in ODIs after Stafanie Taylor's 171, as West Indies completed the chase in 38.4 overs.

Brief Scores: Ireland 269 all out in 49 overs (Amy Hunter 96; Afy Fletcher 4-49, Hayley Matthews 3-52) lost to West Indies 270/1 in 38.4 overs (Hayley Matthews 159*, Realeanna Grimmond 91) by 9 wickets