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Hayley Matthews Returns From Stretcher To Score A Heroic Hundred In World Cup Qualifiers

Jatin

Hayley Matthews smashed a hundred [Source: @FanCode, @ABsay_ek/x.com]Hayley Matthews smashed a hundred [Source: @FanCode, @ABsay_ek/x.com]

Hayley Matthews might not have won the match but she surely won hearts in Lahore. What the West Indies skipper pulled off in their World Cup Qualifier clash against Scotland was nothing short of a miracle, even if it ended in heartbreak.

Hayley Matthews Stretchered Off Then Returns To Smash Century

Hayley Matthews batted like a warrior, ran like a machine and even came back from the stretcher to notch up a hundred. She kicked off her day with the ball, turning arm over and grabbing 4-56 in her 10 overs.

Her spell helped the Windies bowl Scotland out for 245 which, to be fair, looked well short when they were cruising at 182-4. But the middle-order wobble meant the Scots still posted their highest ever ODI total against a Full Member. A fighting total, but nothing Matthews and co couldn't chase. Or so we thought.

It didn’t start well with Qiana Joseph dismissed early but Matthews wasn’t going anywhere. She anchored the innings, stroked the ball to all corners and added 113 with Zaida James. At 164-3, West Indies looked in control.

But then the plot started to twist. Chinelle Henry fell after two meaty sixes, the middle order collapsed and suddenly it was all on Matthews' shoulders.

The Body Gave In But The Heart Didn't

At 192-6 in the 39th over, Matthews was on 95 when her body betrayed her. Cramps kicked in. She dropped to the ground and had to retire hurt and was carried off on a stretcher.

It felt like the end of a gritty knock. But after Fraser fell and Fletcher hung around a bit, Matthews came back out. Yes, from stretcher to crease. She hobbled out again, flicked a single to bring up her century and then despite being in obvious pain smashed three boundaries in the 44th over.

Even Aaliyah Alleyne got in on the act, and the Windies suddenly had belief. Just when it looked like Matthews might pull one off the greatest ODI rescue acts ever, Alleyne was trapped LBW by Abtaha Maqsood. West Indies folded for 232, 13 runs short, and Scotland erupted with joy.

It was their first major upset of the Qualifiers. For Windies, favourites coming into the tournament, it was a rude wake-up call. For Matthews, it was an effort that deserved to be written in golden ink, even if it ended in tears.

Hayley Matthews became only the fourth cricketer to take four wickets and score a century in the same women’s ODI, joining an elite club with Stafanie Taylor, Amelia Kerr, and Saskia Horley. But she is the first to do it and still end up on the losing side. However, she showed the world that even when the legs don’t move, the heart does.