England turned the page on their T20 World Cup exit at the hands of West Indies with an eight-wicket victory in the opening match of their home series in Canterbury, despite a brilliant unbeaten century by Hayley Matthews.
Of West Indies' total of 146 for 7, their captain, Matthews, scored exactly 100 off 67 balls, leading an understrength batting line-up missing Deandra Dottin and Chinelle Henry after England had won the toss. Only two of her team-mates reached double figures, with Mandy Mangru's 17 from No.8 the next-best score.
In their first meeting since West Indies handed England a group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup in Dubai, Sophia Dunkley's 78 not out gave her new-look side victory at the first time of asking under new head coach Charlotte Edwards and new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. She was beautifully supported by former captain Heather Knight, who finished unbeaten on 43.
Matthews posed a test for bowlers Em Arlott, on debut, Issy Wong, attempting to cement her return to international cricket and Linsey Smith, acting as England's sole left-arm spinner in the absence of Sophie Ecclestone. They claimed one wicket each, Smith the most economical with 1 for 18 off four overs. It was established seamer Lauren Bell who was the pick of the England bowlers with 2 for 29.
Andy Balbirnie's ninth ODI hundred and Barry McCarthy's four-wicket haul handed West Indies a 124-run thrashing in the first ODI in Dublin. It was Ireland's biggest win by runs against a Full Member and their fourth-biggest victory overall.
Balbirnie, who came into this game with scores of 91, 101 and 63 in the Inter-Provincial Cup, continued his good form and accumulated 112 off 138 balls to set the platform for Ireland's eventual 303 for 6.
McCarthy then dismantled West Indies' top order by taking three wickets with the new ball. Roston Chase and Matthew Forde resisted but only briefly. Fittingly, it was McCarthy who took the final wicket as West Indies were bowled out for 179 in 34.1 overs.
Earlier, after West Indies opted to bowl, Balbirnie found good support from captain Paul Stirling and Harry Tector. Both scored quick half-centuries to allow Balbirnie to play the anchor's role he has been assigned. Stirling was the aggressor in the 109-run opening stand. During his 54 off 64 balls, he also became the first Ireland batter to reach 10,000 international runs.
While Cade Carmichael did not last long, Balbirnie and Tector kept Ireland going with a third-wicket stand of 98 in just 81 balls. Balbirnie took 88 balls to reach his fifty but stepped up after that. His second fifty came in 43 balls.
Alzarri Joseph ended that stand in the 44th over with Balbirnie's wicket, but Tector's 56 off 51 and Lorcan Tucker's 30 off 18 ensured Ireland crossed 300.
Cricket West Indies is pleased to announce the upcoming Academy home series between the West Indies and Sri Lanka from 7 June to 26 June 2025. The tour will feature two four-day first-class matches and three 50-over matches to be played in Antigua at the Coolidge Cricket Ground and the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, respectively.
This series is part of the long-term strategic plan for CWI to create a pathway for the region’s brightest talent to develop while being exposed to international competition. These matches are at an opportune time for the Academy players who recently took part in the 2025 West Indies Championship.
Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe sees the increased value in having competitive cricket for the Academy team.
“These matches serve as a critical component in the development of our emerging players. There is a strategic plan in terms of bridging the gap between the junior and senior levels and the games against Sri Lanka will be used to continue sharpening and equipping our best prospects for the next level.”
Cricket West Indies (CWI) is proud to announce the renewal of its long-standing partnership with Apex Group Ltd. ahead of the West Indies Men’s ODI and T20I Series against Ireland and England.
Running from May 21 to June 15, the Apex brand will once again feature prominently on the front of the “Men in Maroon” team shirts as they compete in six One Day Internationals and six T20 Internationals across Ireland and England. These series mark the Caribbean side’s return to international competition for the first time since December 2024.
Beyond brand visibility, the partnership also includes exciting fan and employee engagement initiatives. Selected Apex employees will enjoy exclusive access to team training sessions in Dublin and London, offering a behind-the-scenes experience with the West Indies squad.
Bridgetown, Barbados - The Barbados Royals have secured the services of Sherfane Rutherford for the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), in a move that will see Jason Holder joining the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. The two sides have also agreed for Alick Athanaze to move from the Royals to the Patriots for the 2025 season.
Rutherford, a dynamic middle-order batter and powerful striker, will be turning out for his third CPL franchise, having previously represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Patriots. His addition brings further firepower to the Royals’ batting line-up as they look to mount a strong campaign in 2025.
In a landmark move, Jason Holder departs his home franchise after a remarkable run with the Barbados-based team since the league’s inaugural season in 2013 and having been part of championship wins with the Royals in 2014 and 2019. The transfer marks the end of an era for Holder, who has been a consistent leader and key figure for the Royals for over a decade.
