Despite a tough defeat at the hands of England in the opening T20I, West Indies Women’s head coach Shane Deitz struck a balanced tone—extolling Hayley Matthews’ dazzling century while acknowledging the shortcomings that cost them the match.
The eight-wicket loss in Canterbury saw England chase down 146 with over three overs to spare, but Matthews’ unbeaten 100 off 67 balls remained the shining beacon for a side still finding its feet amid injury setbacks and transitional challenges.
From the outset, Matthews looked in imperious touch, crafting an innings of class and command that carried the West Indies innings on her shoulders. Yet, without much support from her middle order, the team faltered and fell short of a competitive target.
Introducing the performance, Deitz didn’t hold back in his praise, “Hayley Matthews again stamped her authority on the game,” he said. “Scoring 100 not out in a team total of 146 just proves once again she’s among the top players in the world and an absolute superstar.” He added, “She played a fantastic knock and carried the team, but we were probably 20 or 30 runs short of where we wanted to be.”
The West Indies bowling effort offered early hope when young spinner Zaida James removed Danni Wyatt-Hodge with a sharp delivery that deflected onto the stumps. However, England’s aggression during the power play, led by Sophia Dunkley and Heather Knight, quickly erased any advantage the visitors had hoped to maintain.
Reflecting on the initial spell, Deitz shared, “Zaida started well, took a wicket, and we had a chance in the first over.” But he didn’t shy away from addressing where it fell apart, “But we bowled too many four-balls, and they destroyed us in the power play. After that, we were always playing catch-up.”
England chased the target with ease, and Dunkley’s unbeaten 81, combined with Knight’s authoritative 43*, sealed the match decisively. For West Indies, it meant regrouping quickly ahead of the second match, with the coach revealing a flexible training strategy to match player needs.
“We’ve trained a lot so there might be a few players that may need rest,” Deitz said.
“We’ll assess how everyone is, take it by a case-by-case basis.” He explained the plan, “There are a few players who need to have a heavy workout and some a bit lighter. But we did have a look at their conditions, (we’re) working out game plans so we’re prepared for Friday.”
The coach also pointed to the uncontrollable factors that worked against them. “We wanted to bowl first,” Deitz noted. “So, we had to have a good total on the board and bowl well early on, which we weren’t able to do.”
He continued, “And then at the end, a bit of dew came in and it was pretty hard to defend. Batting second was always going to be the way forward.” In candid fashion, he added, “The main issue was we lost the toss. Hayley can’t do everything.”
One persistent factor hampering the Caribbean side’s rhythm has been the chilly English weather—conditions they are still learning to adapt to. “The cold weather is not something you get used to quickly coming from the Caribbean,” Deitz said. “It was really cold at some stages. It’s something that we got to put out of our minds to concentrate on what we’re doing and play some good cricket.”
While the scoreboard told a story of dominance from England, Deitz extracted key positives from his young squad. He singled out Zaida James’ new-ball impact and Mandy Mangru’s supportive cameo of 17. Also, despite a nervous debut, Realeanna Grimmond gained vital experience that will shape her growth.
Deitz emphasized Matthews’ leadership beyond the bat, “Hayley stamped her authority again. She’s an absolute superstar and carried the team.”
For Matthews, the burden of captaincy has been balanced by her desire to uplift and mentor the next generation. “We’ve got a very young group, especially in the XI. A lot of these girls are coming straight from domestic cricket and facing England is a big step up,” she said. “We just have to keep encouraging them and give them the space to grow.”
Her commitment to the cause was clear, “A lot of them look up to me and I cherish the opportunity to lead from the front, just like Stafanie Taylor did when I was coming up. Hopefully, we can build confidence in the group and find some bright sparks across the series.”
The second T20I is scheduled for May 23 at Hove, with the final T20I set for May 26 in Chelmsford. With the series still alive, Deitz will aim to fine-tune his playing XI based on individual physical assessments and strategic shifts that adapt better to English conditions.
Following the T20Is, the sides will square off in a three-match ODI series, starting May 30 in Derby, followed by games in Leicester (June 4) and Taunton (June 7). Though West Indies did not qualify for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup, this series is an essential proving ground for their bench strength.
England, led by new skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and coach Charlotte Edwards, will look to solidify their new era and finalize key combinations ahead of the World Cup and their tour of India.
While Matthews’ century rightly stole the headlines, Deitz’s post-match reflections provided a clear-eyed assessment of where the West Indies need to go next. As the series unfolds, the focus for the Caribbean side will be balancing bold individual performances with cohesive team execution—something Deitz hopes to unlock before time runs out.
