Windies plot rare series defeat on Australian soil – but can Hayley Matthews really do it again?

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews needs to produce another masterpiece. But a cricketer’s luck is bound to run out at some stage. It’s just that type of sport.

Hayley Matthews celebrates reaching her century against Australia at the North Sydney Oval. Picture: AFP

Steve Smith was a hyperactive young fella who’d just pocketed a pile of money thanks to NSW winning the 2009 Champions League T20 tournament in India. He stood at Sydney Airport and acknowledged times and finances were abundantly good – but acknowledged cricket would consistently bite him on the backside as his career progressed. “It’s just that type of sport,” he said.

“Young Smithy,” was what everyone called him. Young Smithy is now a hyperactive older fella and cricket’s been pretty bloody good to him. Smithy has food, clothing and shelter, for starters, all a win in life.

A series of unfortunate events known as Sandpapergate, a smattering of unfortunate series results, and a few white-ball form slumps have bitten a fair share from his derriere but all in all, Smithy’s had a great run. More good times than bad and yet even a player as decorated as Smithy has experienced the extremes of cricket’s swings and roundabouts. It’s just that type of sport.

A leveller of legends. Forever bringing batters back down to Earth. Which is the intriguing aspect to West Indies captain Hayley Matthews’ attempt to continue dominating Australia in Thursday night’s T20I series decider at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field. She’s made 99no and 132 against a pretty slick Australian attack and won seven straight player of the match awards in a truly incredible run of form – that means she’s due a bite to the backside sometime soon. No cricketer can keep this up. Or can they?

On a scale of one to 10, here confidence rates at about a million. “I figure it’s pretty high after a 99 not out and 132,” she grins. “But look, cricket – every time you come to the ground, you’ve got to start on zero again. I’m pretty confident at the moment but at the same time, I can’t get too high. I’ve still got to take it ball-by-ball as we go into the next game.”

The Windies levelled the series 1-1 by conjuring the biggest chase (213) in the history of women’s T20Is on Monday night at North Sydney Oval. Matthews’ thunderous 132 came from just 64 balls and included sixes that landed on the Harbour Bridge, hit the top of Centrepoint Tower and knocked a tooth out of the face at the entrance to Luna Park. Or similar.

Australia’s women haven’t lost a home series since Belinda Clark was in nappies. “It would be huge,” Matthews says. “As far as I can remember, Australia haven’t been beaten at home in a long time. Our team is trying to learn to grow so much. There’s so many young players in our team and in our squad. It would mean a lot to us and it would mean a lot to all the people supporting us in the Caribbean. It would definitely instil a lot of confidence in the team … and that’s exactly what we need.”

Matthews hits a six on her way to 132 off just 64 balls. Picture: AFP

Matthews is a 25-year-old from Barbados. Her batting numbers speak for themselves. This year she’s scored 734 runs in 15 international innings at 61.16. In the manner of Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, she rolls the arm over for laconic and very tidy offspin. She believes the world of women’s cricket is catching up to the Australians … and here’s why.

“We’re seeing a lot more investments around the world from boards into the women’s game,” she says.

“I think that’s what is going to close the gap. I think Australia obviously got way ahead of the game because their board made a pretty early and heavy investment in the women’s game. We saw them go from strength to strength after those investments were made. The more investments from other countries around the world – obviously it’s going to take time to catch up but it’s great we’re now seeing some different results.”

Australia captain Alyssa Healy copped some flak for leaving gaps square of the wicket that Matthews plundered most of her runs through. The real problem, though, was her bowlers failing to nail the plan by bowling at the stumps. When they strayed wide, it was fodder for Matthews, whose masterpiece was made easier by deliveries landing exactly where she desired them.

“The job of a captain is hard,” she says in defence of Healy. “I’m pretty sure Alyssa would have had conversations with her bowlers, and I’m pretty sure, from being a captain myself, the plan was probably to bowl straighter.

“I know how tough it can be as a captain where the bowlers don’t exactly hit where they need to be. I’m pretty sure they’re going to go back and look at the footage and definitely have some different game plans,” she says.

“I have to be wary. I might have to change my game plan as well.”