West Indies captain Hayley Matthews blasted 79 from 40 balls, including 11 boundaries and four sixes, but her side crumbled in the second half of the run chase, losing 10-46 in a dramatic 56-ball collapse to hand Australia a comfortable 47-run victory in the T20 series decider at Allan Border Field on Thursday.
Earlier, the hosts registered 9-190 courtesy of a classy half-century from vice-captain Tahlia McGrath and another late cameo from young gun Phoebe Litchfield.
Matthews won the toss and elected to bowl first, with Australian captain Alyssa Healy handed an early reprieve after Shamilia Connell dropped a low chance in the opening over. Opening partner Beth Mooney was sent packing the following over after looking for a quick single, only to be sent back and run out for 3. Later in the Powerplay, Healy fished outside off while facing Aaliyah Alleyne, feathering a catch through to wicketkeeper Rashada Williams for 18.
McGrath and Ellyse Perry steadied the ship with an 80-run partnership for the third wicket. The South Australian brought up her half-century in 25 deliveries after West Indies veteran Stafanie Taylor dropped a chance at long-on, parrying the ball over the boundary rope for six.
Taylor redeemed herself in the 12th over by holding onto a smart catch at mid-off, with McGrath departing for 65 (34). Not long after, Gardner hooked a bouncer from Connell towards deep square leg for 2, and Perry fell victim to spinner Karishma Ramharack the following over for 40 (30).
Litchfield continued her blistering form with the bat, cracking 36 (17) in the dying overs and combining with Annabel Sutherland for a 49-run partnership.
Connell knocked over Litchfield and Megan Schutt on the final two deliveries of the innings, finishing with commendable figures of 3-25.
The West Indies run chase got off to a dream start, with Matthews and opening partner Shabika Gajnabi combining for a 97-run partnership.
The Australians were once again plagued by misfields and inaccurate bowling, with Healy putting down a tough chance off Brown’s bowling in the fourth over, gifting Matthews an early life on 11. After reaching her half-century in 29 deliveries, Matthews smacked back-to-back sixes against Sutherland to put the tourists in a commanding position at the drinks break. The 25-year-old became the first cricketer to score three fifties against Australia in women’s T20Is in a calendar year.
Matthews was threatening to pull off another heist before Brown deceived the right-hander with a slower ball in the 11th over, which sparked a horror collapse of 5-7 from 13 balls.
Gajnabi was run out in calamitous scenes for 16 (27) before Brown removed Chinelle Henry and Shemaine Campbelle in quick succession, finishing with career-best fingers of 3-20.
Australian seamer Kim Garth, recalled for the series finale, snared two wickets in the 17th over before Gardner ran through the West Indies’ lower order, successfully overturning an LBW shout against Zaida James.
Alleyern (26 from 23 balls) struck a flurry of boundaries at the death, but it was too little, too late for the visitors.
