Windies pair Matthews, Connell on losing end
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC): BOTH HAYLEY Matthews and West Indies teammate Shamilia Connell failed to create any magic as winless Warriors crashed to a 10-wicket defeat to Sapphires here on Saturday.
Choosing to bat first at Dubai International Stadium, Warriors could only muster 129 for five with opener Matthews scoring just one, and Sapphires chased down the target with 13 balls to spare, with fast bowler Connell ending wicketless despite a stingy four-over spell.
Warriors have lost all three of their outings in the FairBreak Invitational Tournament while the win for Sapphires was their first following an opening loss, leaving them fourth on four points in the six-team standings.
Hoping to change their luck, Warriors endured the worst possible start when Matthews perished in the second over with three runs on the board, bowled missing a pull at Australian off-spinner Grace Harris.
REVIVED WARRIORS
Two partnerships then revived Warriors and took them past the 100run mark. First, top-scorer Georgia Redmayne struck 33 from 39 balls in a 45-run second-wicket stand with Esha Oza (25) before adding a further 45 for the third with South Africa’s Mignon du Preez who made 31 from 26 balls.
In reply, both captain Elyse Villani and Gaby Lewis carved out an unbeaten 62 apiece as Sapphires motored to their target with little discomfort.
Villani faced 51 balls and struck nine fours while Lewis faced 57 deliveries and counted seven fours and two sixes.
Connell, handed the new ball, proved economical by giving up just 19 runs while off-spinner Matthews sent down four overs for 29 runs.