ROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) — West Indies Women's Captain Hayley Matthews said her side had bigger challenges ahead, but they welcomed the clean sweep of their home international series against Ireland that ended on Saturday in St Lucia.
The Caribbean side sent the visitors back home without a win on the entire tour after sweeping the Twenty20 International series 3-0, after they had won the preceding series of three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for ICC Women's Championship points 2-0, with the second ODI washed out.
"The girls have supported me from day one — from the time I've taken up the captaincy — and I'm so grateful for every single one of them that has been out there supporting me," she said in an interview with CWI Media.
"We have been going on the field and fighting for each other every day, and I think we all know that we gotta keep working, keep trying to improve; and I think this series against Ireland was just one test for us.
"We've crossed this hurdle and we have bigger tests coming up soon, so I think for us it's just about going out there and preparing really well and getting ready for the next battle."
GRAND PRAIRIE, United States (CMC) — West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine has been appointed captain of LA Knight Riders for the inaugural Major League Cricket season bowling off Thursday.
And the 35-year-old will link up with former West Indies head coach and fellow Trinidadian Phil Simmons who will take charge of the franchise for the July 13-30 campaign.
"I've always spoken about wanting to represent the Knight Riders wherever they play," said Narine.
"We've long talked about coming to the United States and I'm glad it's finally happening.
"As captain of this side I am looking forward to the challenge. There are a lot of experienced guys in this team who I can bounce information off, so it will be an exciting time for us.
The leading wicket-taker in First-Class cricket in the Caribbean Veerasammy Permaul has been overlooked for the West Indies first Test of the two-match series against India, starting July 12 in Windsor Park, Dominica.
Cricket West Indies on Friday announced the squad selected by the Desmond Haynes-led panel, and left-arm spinner Permaul was a glaring omission.
The panel handed recalls to Bajan left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and Leeward Islands all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall.
Another left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was unavailable for selection as he is undergoing rehabilitation from injury.
“I’m extremely disappointed,” 33-year-old Permaul told News Room Sport after being overlooked for the opening match of the series.
“I have been playing my heart out in regional cricket just to make it back to the top. I have been performing with ball and bat, and still, that isn’t enough.
ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) — Legend Brian Lara believes the rookie batting pair of Kirk McKenzie and Alick Athanaze possess the attributes to succeed at the highest level, despite lacking extensive first-class experience.
McKenzie, 22, along with Athanaze, 24, were both named in the West Indies squad for the first Test against India starting here next week.
While Athanaze has already featured in 30 first-class games, McKenzie has played only nine, but Lara said their willingness to listen and learn could prove critical for them.
"They are very capable players — young. Of course, you would love if they had a lot more experience, especially in the first-class arena, but looking at their style of play, their attitude, they do have what it takes to perform at the highest level," said Lara, who is West Indies' performance mentor for the upcoming series.
GROS ISLET, St. Lucia- Hayley Matthews produced a spell of magic with bat and ball to lead the West Indies Women to an 8-wicket win over Ireland Women in the third T20 international to clean sweep the series 3-0 at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
Batting first, Ireland looked intent on posting their highest total of the series, with beautiful stroke play from Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast. The pair shared in a 66-run partnership for the second wicket when Hunter was runout for 44 off a deflection of Ashmini Munisar’s fingers. Prendergast was caught in the deep by Shabika Gajnabi off the bowling of Afy Fletcher for 40.
Rain interrupted Ireland’s innings twice before they finished on 116/9 from their 20 overs. Hayley Matthews saved her best bowling performance of the series for her final over, when her off-spin ripped through the wickets of Rebecca Stokell 0, Arlene Kelly 0 and Ava Canning 0, becoming the third West Indies Women’s player to take a T20I hat-trick, she finished with figures of 4-0-14-4, Cherry-Ann Fraser chipped in with 3-0-19-2.
