Deitz praises WI Women batting surge after Ireland whitewash

BREADY, Ireland: West Indies Women have put their World Cup semi-final defeat behind them, sealing a 3-0 series sweep of Ireland at Bready with commanding all-round cricket that has head coach Shane Deitz declaring the side has returned to its best.

Coming off a demanding 10-week tour that closed with that semi-final setback, the Windies women controlled every phase against a determined Irish side.

“I think we played pretty good cricket throughout the whole series,” Deitz told CWI media after the last win. “We talked about batters stepping up and making big hundreds, and now Hayley (Matthews) made two, and Stafanie (Taylor) made two. Young Grimo (Releanna Grimond) made 90. “We had some other contributions along the way. So the batters did a really good job. That’s where we struggled in ODI cricket recently,” he observed.

Across the three matches, Matthews and Taylor each posted two large centuries, giving the West Indies a pair of double centurions. Grimond’s polished 90 at the top of the order added further proof that a batting group which had been under pressure in the 50-over game is finding its rhythm again.

Deitz also welcomed the bowling unit’s accuracy on pitches that gave little help.

“Pretty good batting conditions,” he acknowledged. “We talked about just being consistent and making them hit our best ball more often, and I think the bowlers did a pretty good job with that as well. We had some new opening bowlers and some different roles in the team. So yeah, the players really stood up and fought hard as well the whole time.”

The tour also marked a landmark for Stafanie Taylor, who moved past 10,000 international runs. Deitz cast the feat as only the next chapter for the West Indies’ finest player.

“Mate, 10,000 runs is a lot of runs,” Deitz said, struggling to contain his admiration. “And mate, I think since I’ve been with the team for three years, she’s in the best form I’ve seen. “She scored a great hundred against Australia in St Kitts a few months ago, and then two hundreds here, and she’s gone from strength to strength.”

Asked how much more the 35-year-old can still produce, the coach did not hedge.

“I reckon she’s got at least another 5,000 in her,” he declared. “But what an amazing player, a legend of world cricket, obviously a legend of West Indies cricket, and lucky we’ve got her in our team, and such a great person as well, on and off the field. So congratulations to her, and she deserves everything she gets.”