In a one-sided contest, the West Indies succumbed to South Africa by 10 wickets, unable to defend a total of 118 runs on Friday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Following the match, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews addressed her team’s performance against South Africa, the playing conditions in Dubai, and various other matters during a media session.
Matthews acknowledged the disappointment of the match, stating, “First and foremost, we did not score enough runs on the board, and then we would have preferred to take a few wickets to make a better fight in the second innings. However, with another match in just two days, we need to get everything back on track quickly and regroup.”
It was surprising to witness the West Indies lose in such a manner, lacking a robust challenge. “Dubai is extremely hot. It’s probably the hottest venue I have ever played cricket at. Nevertheless, having been here for around two weeks, we’ve been able to acclimatize as much as we can. Thankfully, the remaining games are at night, so hopefully, it won’t be as hot then,” Matthews said.
Despite the difficult conditions, the pitch performed as anticipated. “We arrived here expecting good pitches. We spent considerable time here before heading to Pakistan in April. We were familiar with the ICC Academy grounds, which are generally good for play. The pitch today was decent, and South Africa demonstrated how to bat well on it, particularly with Stafanie (Taylor) leading the way for us. The conditions didn’t catch us off guard; we just failed to adapt effectively,” Matthews observed.
Matthews praised Taylor’s contributions, saying, “Stafanie Taylor is vital to West Indies cricket. She has represented the West Indies since 2008, and her significance has only grown over the years.”
Looking ahead, the West Indies will face Scotland on Sunday, aiming for a victory against the T20 World Cup newcomers. However, injury concerns linger following their first match. Matthews noted, “Zaida (James) took a solid hit to the face, resulting in some discomfort and swelling around her jaw. She’s a resilient player, so hopefully, this will be just one of those on-field knocks and she can recover in time for the next match.”
Additionally, Stafanie Taylor, who was the top scorer for West Indies with an unbeaten 44, also appeared to be in discomfort during her innings as she struggled with her knee.
Image Source: Hayley Matthews @ Instagram
