West Indies Women Triumph Over Sri Lanka Women by 7 Wickets in Thrilling 1st T20I

West Indies Women kicked off the T20I leg of the Sri Lanka Women tour with a convincing 7-wicket victory in the 1st T20I at the National Cricket Stadium in St George’s, Grenada, chasing down 138 with 8 balls remaining to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Hayley Matthews’ all-round masterclass (unbeaten 62 off 48 and 2/24) anchored the chase, supported by Shemaine Campbelle’s quick 38* off 28, after Afy Fletcher’s 3/22 and Karishma Ramharack’s 2/18 restricted Sri Lanka to 137/6. This win showcased West Indies’ home strength and batting depth in Caribbean conditions. A vibrant local crowd of around 10,000 enjoyed the evening game, cheering as the hosts sealed it comfortably on a balanced pitch offering early seam and later grip.

The National Cricket Stadium, under clear February night skies with minimal dew, produced a moderate-scorer with under 280 runs but turned into a dominant chase. The pitch — offering seam and bounce early, then some turn — favored bowling first but allowed chases with smart batting. Hayley Matthews’ decision to field first after winning the toss was vindicated, exploiting early movement. For Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, the defeat was frustrating, unable to post enough despite a solid start; for Matthews, it was satisfying, a complete team effort. As Campbelle hit the winning boundary amid cheers, the series narrative tilted toward West Indies.

West Indies Women XI Hayley Matthews (c), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbelle, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Shabika Gajnabi, Ashmini Munisar, Cherry-Ann Fraser

Sri Lanka Women XI Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Ama Kanchana, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasuriya, Udeshika Prabodhani

Sri Lanka Women – 137/6 (20 overs) Sri Lanka recovered from early setbacks after being inserted. Gunaratne (quick 18) and Athapaththu (32 off 28) provided a platform, but Fletcher (3/22) struck with leg-spin to remove Athapaththu and Samarawickrama. Dilhari (quick 22) and de Silva (28 off 32) added a 50-run stand, but Ramharack (2/18) broke it with off-spin. Lower order chipped in with extras 10, but no big finish as Fraser bowled tight in the death. Momentum stayed controlled as Sri Lanka failed to accelerate, posting a chaseable total.

West Indies Women – 138/3 (18.4 overs) West Indies’ chase was steady and aggressive. Matthews (62* off 48, 7 fours, 2 sixes) dominated with timing, sharing a 85-run opening stand with Joseph (quick 28). Joseph fell to Kumari (1/30), but Campbelle (38* off 28, 4 fours, 1 six) accelerated with Taylor (quick 20). Ranaweera (1/32) picked Taylor, but pacers leaked under assault. No collapse; smart running and boundaries sealed victory comfortably with balls remaining.

Key Moments

• Hayley Matthews’ unbeaten 62 off 48, anchoring the chase with all-round brilliance.
• Afy Fletcher’s 3/22, dismantling Sri Lanka’s middle order with leg-spin variations.
• Shemaine Campbelle’s quick 38* off 28, finishing strongly in the unbroken stand.
• 85-run opening stand between Matthews and Joseph, laying the foundation.
• Karishma Ramharack’s 2/18, strangling Sri Lanka’s middle overs.

Player of the Match: Hayley Matthews (62* & 2/24) Winning Captain (Hayley Matthews): “Great start to the T20s—bowlers set it up early, and we chased well. The pitch was good, and the crowd was fantastic. Looking to carry this into the next game.” Losing Captain (Chamari Athapaththu): “We needed more runs—top order didn’t fire enough. Credit to West Indies; they bowled and fielded superbly. We’ll come back stronger.”

Series: West Indies Women lead 1–0 Next → West Indies Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 2nd T20I: National Cricket Stadium, St George’s — March 1, 2026 (7:00 PM local)

West Indies’ clinical win highlighted their all-round strength at home, with Matthews leading from the front. As they eye series dominance, the hosts carry momentum into the next clash, while Sri Lanka aim to level proceedings in a competitive tour.