New Zealand women led the series thanks to their bowlers
In the third T20I, Fran Jonas (3 for 16), Eden Carson (2 for 14), and Suzie Bates (2 for 5) repeatedly battered the West Indies, allowing New Zealand to win by five wickets and take a 2-1 series lead. Despite fighting hard in both innings, Hayley Matthews (30 & 4-12), the visitors won by five wickets.
West Indies had difficulty right away since they lost their opener, Aaliyah Alleyne, after only three overs. Matthews, who contributed the majority of the PowerPlay’s points, was hit immediately away for a 28-ball 30. Since then, wickets have fallen, making her performance the finest individual one from West Indies.
With Carson and Jonas tearing through the middle order, as many as five hitters had final scores in the single digits. With some runs added by Kyshona Knight, Chinelle Henry, and Shabika Gajnabi, New Zealand moved from 34 for 1 to 78 for 8. The hosts scored 12 runs in the last over, but ultimately were only able to total 93 for 9.
With her off-spin, Matthews gave West Indies hope by dismissing every top-four New Zealand batsman who fell within the PowerPlay overs, leaving them reeling at 20 for 4. However, Maddy Green stepped up to right the ship, and she did so alongside Lauren Down, who helped the visitors surpass the 50-run threshold. Despite the fact that Down was also out, West Indies had too little of a total to attempt a last-minute robbery, and New Zealand finished the chase with eight balls to spare.
In a match that was controlled by the spinners in Antigua, Maddy Green led New Zealand to the series victory. Before the West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews reacted with four wickets to offer them some hope of defending a low score, Fran Jonas set the tone for the visitors.
With only 11 on the board, Matthews dismissed three of New Zealand’s main hitters, Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Amelia Kerr. She shortly added Georgia Plimmer, leaving them at 20 for 4 in the sixth over.
Green and Lauren Down, however, stabilised the pursuit as they combined for a 38-run fifth-wicket stand, and Green was supported by Hayley Jensen for the remaining eight balls to secure win. In New Zealand’s chase, Green struck all six fours, while Plimmer also hit a six.
