Record-breaking Matthews-Grimmond partnership crushes Ireland

Hayley Matthews and Shabika Grimmond put on West Indies’ biggest-ever partnership as the West Indies thumped Ireland.

Record stand

Matthews and Grimmond broke the West Indies record for their biggest partnership. Their stand completely took the game away from Ireland. On the back of that partnership, West Indies went on to crush Ireland by a big margin. It was a statement win for West Indies. Matthews led from the front again, and Grimmond’s support turned it into a record-breaking day.

Matthews had a dream outing taking 3 for 52 to bowl Ireland out for 269 and scoring an unbeaten 159. Grimmond (91) scored her second ODI fifty in her sixth game and Afy Fletcher took 4 for 49 which was key in restricting the hosts after Amy Hunter's 96 had taken them to a position of strength.

West Indies' chase took off with six fours across the fourth and fifth overs. Matthews and Grimmond hit 13 fours between them by the end of the 72-run opening powerplay. Matthews was dropped by Jane Maguire on 52 in the 12th over which went on to be a pivotal moment.

Hayley Matthews hit a 90-ball hundred in the 28th over, then went into six-hitting mode to take West Indies past 200 in the 30th over. Shabika Grimmond matched her for boundaries. Dropped on 84, she made 91 before falling with 12 runs still needed — the only blip in an otherwise dominant chase. Their stand is now West Indies’ biggest partnership.

Ireland innings

Ireland actually batted well. They had five 30+ partnerships and were ahead for over two-thirds of the innings. Gaby Lewis set the tone in the powerplay with 3 boundaries in the 2 double-digit overs. She put on 38 with Sarah Forbes — Forbes run out — then added 39 more with Hunter.

Ireland's run rate rose to 5.71 after 38 overs as Hunter made 25 off 18 in a 50-run partnership with Rebecca Stokell. But they lost four wickets between overs 34 and 40 which derailed their momentum. Fletcher and Matthews took two each, the most crucial of which was of Hunter's, the ball after Jannillea Glasgow dropped her on 90.

Ireland built a solid platform with partnerships, but Matthews and Grimmond’s record stand blew it away. Matthews’ century + Grimmond’s 91 made the chase look easy in the end.

West Indies 270 for 1 (Matthews 159*, Grimmond 91, Little 1-25) beat Ireland (Hunter 91, Lewis 39, Fletcher 4-49, Matthews 3-52) by nine wickets