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Matthews, Taylor make it three in three for West Indies

Published

3 weeks ago

2026/06/21

Priyan

Nilakshika Silva and Mithali Ayodhya celebrate a direct-hit to remove Hayley Matthews [Cricinfo]

West Indies spinners set up a third straight victory as they strangled Sri Lanka’s batters before Stefanie Taylor steadied a nervy chase to see them home by five wickets in Bristol. The result brings the West Indies joint-top of Group 2 with England – only trailing on net run rate – while Sri Lanka’s hopes of progression took a bashing.

Hayley Matthews was central to West Indies’ effort, arguably setting up the win inside the opening powerplay. Having put Sri Lanka into bat, the West Indies reduced them to 24 for 4 inside the powerplay, a position from which Sri Lanka never truly recovered. Mathews picked up innings best figures of 3 for 15.

Then with the bat, Matthews did her part in a 28-run opening stand with Deandra Dottin, and while Sri Lanka plugged away with wickets through the middle overs, a combination of poor catching, excess extras and Taylor’s stewardship ensured West Indies’ chase was never truly under threat.

Even on a surface where batting isn’t the easiest, any opportunities need to be grabbed when defending a sub-par total – which is precisely what Sri Lanka had managed having been bowled out for 98.

Sri Lanka however struggled to capitalise on the opportunities afforded to them, while simultaneously gifting too many free runs. Twenty-three extras were given away across the innings, with 13 of those coming in wides.

Moreover Sri Lanka dropped three catches across the innings – two of them coming shortly after the fall of a wicket; momentum is everything in a low-scoring game, and Sri Lanka were guilty of giving it up too easily. There were also a handful of close run-out chances that went begging.

It meant that West Indies, who had looked uneasy across their chase, were not punished for their mistakes – which in itself was a result of mistakes induced by the pressure created by the Sri Lankan bowlers and fielders outside of their costly errors.

Having someone with the experience of Taylor in the middle order would be a boon for most any side, and she showed her value once again on Sunday. After a solid opening stand, West Indies had slipped from 2 for 36 to 5 for 70. Another couple of wickets and those remaining 29 runs might have felt closer to 50.

However Taylor offered just the calmness required in such a situation, content to deftly rotate the strike and ensure there were no further hiccups. Her six off a free hit was the only six of the game, but highlighted her ability to capitalise on the situation at hand. Fittingly she struck the winning runs – tellingly, dropped at midwicket.

Sri Lanka average barely over 6 an over against spin since the end of the last T20 World Cup, and West Indies were well-suited to exploit that potential weakness with a team stacked with spin options.

First on that list was skipper Matthews, who opened the bowling and struck three times in a three-over spell inside the powerplay. On a surface that was tacky, she cleverly didn’t attempt to do too much, simply keeping her lines and lengths tidy.

In a period that crippled the Lankan innings before it had even truly begun, Vishmi Gunaratne offered up a leading edge – one spectacularly plucked out of the sky by Matthews – before Chamari Athapaththu went far too early on a pull as she saw her left bail dislodged. Harshitha Samarawickrama meanwhile was done in by some extra bounce, which meant she struggled to keep down a cut straight to point.

When Chinelle Henry had Imesha Dulani caught at mid-on, Sri Lanka had lost their fourth wicket inside the powerplay with just 24 runs on the board.

Ashmini Munisar – drafted into XI to add even more spin options – and Karishma Ramharack picked up three wickets between them as well, as Sri Lanka lost seven of their 10 wickets to spin, eventually being bowled out for 98 with two balls to spare.

With the top and middle order offering little by way of impetus, a rescue job for the ages was needed and Nilakshika de Silva set about her task.

Her 30 off 26 came largely came across two stands of 34 and 23 with Kavisha Dilhari and Kawya Kavindi. Those were two of just three double-digit partnerships across the Sri Lankan innings, as Sri Lanka’s innings stuttered into gear.

But once Nilakshika fell, looking to take on the fielder at deep square leg, the innings once more ground to a halt. Sri Lanka managed 60 for 3 in the middle overs, but without Nilakshika the death overs fetched just 15, as West Indies’ spinners solidified their hold on the game.

SCORES:
West Indies women 99 for 5 in 16.1 overs (Hayley Matthews 17, Deandra Dottin 12, Stefanie Taylor 27*, Jannillea Glasgow 10*; Nimasha Meepage 1-18, Kavisha Dilhari 2-22, Chamari Athapaththu 1-13) beat Sri Lanka women 98 in 19.4 overs (Imesha Dulani 17, Kavisha Dilhari 21, Nilakshika Silva 30, Kavya Kavindi 17; Hayley Matthews 3-15, Chinelle Henry 1-12, Afy Fletcher 1-24, Aaliyah Alleyne 1-15, Ashmini Munisar 1-16, Karishma Ramharack 2-15) by five wickets

[Cricinfo]

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Foreign News

Qatar’s Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin ⁠Khalifa Al Thani laid to rest in Doha

Published

1 hour ago

2026/07/13

Priyan

Mourners gather for prayers after the announcement of the death of Qatar's former leader Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at the Imam Mohammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque in Doha on July 12, 2026 [Aljazeera]

Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin ⁠Khalifa Al Thani, the architect of Qatar’s remarkable transformation into an ultra-wealthy modern nation with global influence, has been laid to rest in Doha following his death at the age of 74.

Sheikh Hamad’s death was announced on Sunday morning, and his simple funeral ceremony was held after the daily evening prayer at sunset at the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque in the capital.

Mourners wearing traditional Qatari dress stood with their hands clasped in front of them during a funeral prayer, facing the shrouded body of Sheikh Hamad.

Afterwards, close family members, including his son and successor as emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, carried his body out of the mosque. Sheikh Hamad was laid to rest at the Lusail Cemetery north of Doha.

Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi said the ceremony was “a humble event” and Sheikh Hamad was “buried in a simple grave”.

“The simplicity really is in keeping with Islamic tradition but also emblematic of how the father emir carried himself in his life,” Basravi said. “He did not concern himself with the trappings of wealth but was focused on the welfare of his own people.”

During Sheikh Hamad’s reign from 1995 to 2013, Qatar’s gross domestic product rose more than 24-fold, largely because of his focus on developing the country’s massive gas resources. By 2006, the small nation had become the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

[Aljazeera]

Latest News

Brendon McCullum removed from post as England Men’s Test coach

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/13

Priyan

The ECB has sacked Brendon McCullum as England’s Test head coach but he will remain in charge of their white-ball teams. The decision leaves England’s Test team without a captain or a coach and comes barely three months after McCullum was publicly backed to continue despite overseeing a 4-1 defeat to Australia in last winter’s Ashes series.

McCullum described himself as “gutted” to lose a job that he had “absolutely loved”. He said in a statement: “Of course I’m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I’ve got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward… I wish the Test team nothing but success.”

Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, insisted in March that McCullum could “evolve” and learn from the mistakes made in Australia, saying that sacking him would have been the “easy” option. But only three Test matches later, in the wake of a 2-1 home defeat to New Zealand, the ECB has done exactly that, with Gould saying “the time is right” with next summer’s Ashes less than 12 months away.

“Brendon breathed new life into England Men’s Test team during an exciting period which saw some amazing victories, and we’re grateful for all he has given to the role,” Gould said. “We now believe that the time is right to make a change for the Test team as we target victory in the Ashes next summer.”

McCullum took charge of England’s Test team in 2022 and, along with captain Ben Stokes, inspired a run of 10 wins in his 11 matches in charge, as England played with uncharacteristic and unprecedented attacking flair. But results have tailed off badly since, and he leaves the job without a series win over either Australia or India.

Overall, McCullum’s record as Test coach stands at 27 wins, two draws, and 20 defeats, with seven of those losses coming in England’s last nine Test matches. His tenure both started and finished with home series against his native New Zealand: a 3-0 win in 2022, and defeat last month that culminated in Stokes’ sudden retirement.

McCullum said after England’s heavy defeat at Trent Bridge, where New Zealand clinched their series win, that his commitment to English cricket “has never wavered” and that he was “pretty sure the plan is that we just keep cracking on” when asked about his future as Test head coach.

But after a week of discussions with the ECB, he was informed on Saturday morning – before England’s fifth T20I against India in Southampton – that he would be removed from the Test job.

Rob Key, England’s managing director, decided two years ago to extend McCullum’s brief to include white-ball cricket when his contract was renewed until the end of 2027. McCullum now departs the Test job with over a year left to run on that deal, though will remain in charge of the white-ball teams until the end of next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa.

The ECB said that the process to recruit a replacement for McCullum would begin immediately, and the decision means a return to the split coaching model that England used from 2022-24 when Matthew Mott was in charge of their white-ball teams. Potential candidates could include Andrew Flintoff, Richard Dawson, Ryan Campbell and Justin Langer.

Andy Flower, who coached England to three Ashes wins in 2009, 2010-11 and 2013, is also likely to be a target, though would need a lucrative contract to persuade him to resume a full-time international role given his success in the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Key said that it had been an “absolute privilege” to work with McCullum, and that he left the Test team “well-set and poised to achieve great things” despite recent results and the leadership vacuum. Harry Brook is the clear favourite to take over from Stokes as captain but the ECB must weigh up whether he can lead across formats.

McCullum had swerved questions about his own future on Saturday night after England’s win over India in Southampton sealed a 4-0 clean-sweep in the T20I series and took them to No. 1 in the ICC’s rankings in the format. His tenure as white-ball coach started with a group-stage exit at the Champions Trophy, though England reached the T20 World Cup semi-final in March.

“I’ve absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together,” McCullum said. “There’ve been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that’s all part of taking on a challenge like this. It’s been a privilege and an honour, and I’m grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey.

“I wish the Test team nothing but success. There’s a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room and they’re a special bunch of lads. I’ll always be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the game on. I know they’ll continue to make people proud.”

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Yastika century, seamers put India on the brink of historic win at Lord’s

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/13

Priyan

Yastika Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's on day three [Cricinfo]

Yastika Bhatia followed India team-mate Kranti Gaud in etching her name onto the Lord’s Test honours boards with a maiden international century to guide India within touching distance of a massive victory over England in their historic match.

Sophie Ecclestone became the first Englishwoman named in the Lord’s Test bowling honours for her toil through 33.3 overs of India’s second innings to take 5 for 118, her fourth five-wicket haul in Tests. In all, Ecclestone bowled 55.2 overs for eight wickets, and her five-for came after Gaud won the race to be the first woman on the list with 5 for 37 on the second day.

Gaud continued her outstanding performance by ending the international careers of Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight in a whimper, as England lurched to 59 for 5 in pursuit of 457. Amy Jones’ second half-century of the match offered enough resistance to ensure England take the match into a fourth and final day, but they do so still needing 327 runs with only four wickets in hand.

Beaumont, who announced two days before the match that this would be her last in an England shirt, fell for a first-ball duck to a beauty that nipped in, beat the inside edge and crashed into the top of off stump. Gaud curtailed her celebrations to join the India players in forming a guard of honour as Beaumont left the field.

Knight, who also announced that she would retire after this match two hours after leaving the field on Saturday evening, was also denied a fairytale farewell. With the match all but gone – India had set England the second-highest target in Women’s Test history – the best she could hope for was an individual innings of note. But she too fell to Gaud, caught at short leg by Richa Ghosh for 13.

Gaud, Sayali Satghare and Sneh Rana took two wickets apiece as Jones and Mady Villiers staged a 67-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Earlier, Bhatia had gone where fellow top-order batter Smriti Mandhana could not with her twin fifties in the match, falling 13 and 30 runs shy of her ton in each. Richa Ghosh also reached an unbeaten fifty, at which point India declared their second innings. Resuming on 39 not out with India one wicket down and leading by 269, Bhatia continued to grind England into submission.

She brought up her second Test fifty with an effortless drive down the ground off Lauren Bell and she punished Issy Wong for bowling too full and too wide by picking off boundaries with ease. She struck 14 fours all up and raised her ton off 145 balls with a drive off Wong through deep extra cover, punching the air in celebration as she ran a single.

The performance bookended a mixed tour of England for Bhatia, which began with a half-century in the opening T20I at Chelmsford – her first appearance in the format since April 2024 after undergoing knee surgery – and ended with a Test ton. In between, she made 41 runs in three innings of India’s T20 World Cup campaign, where they failed to make it out of the group stage.

Bhatia started the day surviving a failed attempt to drive at a Bell delivery which beat the inside edge and clipped off stump but didn’t dislodge the bails. She watched as Mandhana added just one to her overnight score of 69 before falling to Bell, well taken by wicketkeeper Amy Jones diving full-stretch to her right and collecting the ball millimetres above the turf.

Bell then accounted for Jemimah Rodrigues with one that jagged in to hit off stump. Soon after, she left the field suffering from abdominal muscle soreness, which kept her out of action for the remainder of the innings.

Cue Ecclestone, who had removed Shafali Verma on the second evening, to account for India captain Harmanpreet Kaur on this third day, although it took an England review to confirm Harmanpreet was plumb lbw.

Ecclestone had Deepti Sharma out in similar fashion, with one that turned in from outside off stump to hit Deepti on the back hip, before Bhatia holed out to extra cover. She claimed her fifth wicket bowling Sneh Rana with one that stayed low. She looked ready to collapse exhausted into her team-mates’ congratulatory embraces.

Richa, who relinquished the wicketkeeping gloves to Bhatia for this match, batted with freedom and was scoring at a run-a-ball when she was dropped on 43 by Wong at long-on off Ecclestone. She brought up her fifty with a single through the covers off Ecclestone, at which point Harmanpreet declared.

During the India innings, news broke of Brendon McCullum’s sacking as England Men’s Test head coach, continuing a theme of this summer where drama in those quarters has overshadowed the women’s events. Two weeks ago, Ben Stokes announced his international retirement in the middle of a Test against New Zealand, right as eventual T20 Women’s World Cup champions Australia were knocking India out of the tournament at Lord’s.

On this occasion, the England Women’s team might have welcomed the distraction as they crumbled. But for India, who comprehensively outplayed them, the limelight should be theirs.

Scores:
England Women 170 in 59.1 overs [Amy Jones 52; Kranti Gaud 5-37] and 130 for 6 in 40 overs (Amy Jones 52*; Sayali Satghare 2-19, Kranti Gaud 2-40) need 327 runs to beat India Women 285 in 74.5 overs [Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58, Deepti Sharma 57; Sophie Ecclestone 3-68] and 341 for 7 dec. in 86.3 overs (Smriti Mandhana 70, Yastika Bhatia 113, Richa Ghosh 50*; Sophie Ecclestone 5-118)

[Cricinfo]