Matthews and Taylor centuries give Windies women unassailable series lead against Ireland

West Indies Women sealed an unbeatable 2-0 advantage in their three-match ODI series against Ireland Women with a six-wicket win in the second contest.

Chasing Ireland’s 241 for seven, the visitors closed on 242 for four in 38.5 overs. Captain Hayley Matthews struck 100 from 94 balls and earned Player of the Match honours, while Stafanie Taylor finished unbeaten on 100 from 105 deliveries.

Realeanna Grimmond fell for a duck in the opening over, but Matthews and Taylor steadied the reply with a 158-run stand. The duo maintained a scoring rate above six an over and built on the batting platform they had set in the series opener’s record chase.

Matthews brought up her fifty with a six and later completed her 13th ODI hundred off 94 balls, at which stage Taylor had 47. Matthews drove the stand with 14 boundaries and two sixes before departing on exactly 100, leaving West Indies at 159 for two after 26 overs.

Ireland then removed Deandra Dottin and Jannillea Glasgow for nine apiece, yet West Indies required only 43 from the remaining 94 balls. Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle put on an unbroken 43 for the fifth wicket to finish the job with 67 deliveries to spare.

Taylor reached her 10th ODI century with consecutive scoring shots — a four and a six — before a no-ball confirmed the result.

Earlier, Amy Hunter and Rebecca Stokell each posted fifties for Ireland, though a slide among the later batters capped the total. Dottin and Matthews had cut Ireland to 74 for three early on: Matthews accounted for key batter Orla Prendergast, while Dottin dismissed openers Sarah Forbes and captain Gaby Lewis.

Hunter and Stokell then added 106 runs, lifting Ireland to 180 for three after 40 overs. Once that pair was out, the lower order unravelled and progress stalled. Ireland ended on 241 for seven, with Dottin returning figures of two for 15 and Matthews two for 34.