In the opening match of the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2022, West Indies defeated hosts New Zealand in a thrilling contest at Bay Oval in Mount Maungan??ui on Friday.

After being put to bat first, the Caribbean side posted a competitive 259/9 on the board in their allotted 50 overs. Opener Hayley Matthews shined with the bat an?d smashed her maiden World Cup century to put Windies in control.

Matthews scored 119 off 128 balls with the help of 17 boundaries, including a six. Although, other batters failed to contribute big enough as the second-highest scorer for West Indies in the match was Chedean Nation with 36 from 46 deliveries.

For New Zealand, Lea Tahuhu rocked the charts with her brilliant bowling display. She picked up three wickets for 57 runs in nine overs. Jess Kerr also bagged a couple of scalps?? while conceding 43 runs in he?r quota of 10 overs.

In the chase, the White Ferns fell only three runs short as the game went down to the wire. Captain Sophie Devine led from the front, hitting a treme?ndous hundred. She scored 108 off 127 balls with the help of 10 boundaries.

Amy Satterthwaite (31) and Katey Martin (44) chipped in with some valuable contributions, but it wasn’t enough as the hosts lost the contest by three runs. Veteran Anisa Mohammed picked up a couple of ??wickets for 60 runs in 10 overs.

Anisa also accomplished a personal milestone as she became the first spinner to get 300 international wickets in women’s cricket. Apart from Anisa, Deandra Dottin (2/2)? and Matthews (2/?41) picked up two wickets apiece.

“Full credit to the West Indies. The way Hayley Matthews played was brilliant. We have to take the positives out of it and move on quickly. We’ve got to enjoy it,” said New Zealand skipper Sophie after the game.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

Hayley Matthews is a fantastic cricketer .. πŸ‘

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 4, 2022

A thrilling win for West Indies in the #CWC22 opener against New Zealand πŸ’₯

➑️ //t.co/aHgI2uedf7 pic.twitter.com/WyHLfC2tN8

— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2022

VICTORY!!!! πŸ₯³πŸ₯³

No wonder WI call them the #MaroonWarriors! πŸ’ͺ🏾😱🌴

A brilliant display with both bat and ball! πŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎ#CWC22 pic.twitter.com/ngKDkjpRjK

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 4, 2022

West Indies opener Hayley Matthews is the first centurion of the 2022 Women’s World Cup, reaching the milestone in 118 deliveries against New Zealand.#CWC22

πŸ“Έ @cricketworldcup pic.twitter.com/bQOZYhhSYK

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) March 4, 2022

Hayley Matthews starts #CWC22 with an impressive 100* off 118 balls.

It wasn't the most impressive dive for the final run, but the century stands!

It's also her maiden World Cup ton.

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) March 4, 2022

Only apt that the big three of West Indies in Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor and now Hayley Matthews all have a World Cup hundred. Not too expressive, but you saw how much this meant for Matthews. πŸ‘πŸΌ #NZvWI #CWC22

— S Sudarshanan (@Sudarshanan7) March 4, 2022

Well played @windiescricket πŸ‘ They win a thriller at @BayOvalNZ by 3 runs. #CWC22 #NZvWI #MakeSomeNoise pic.twitter.com/m63xs5V9JW

— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) March 4, 2022

I am exhaustedβ€?already!! AND is it only game 1 of the #CWC22

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) March 4, 2022

A thrilling win for West Indies in the #CWC22 opener against New Zealand πŸ’₯

➑️ //t.co/D8FZLUoY6p pic.twitter.com/xOW06d3M0F

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 4, 2022

What a start to the #CWC22 as Hayley Matthews completes a remarkable innings of 119 off 128 balls, including 16 fours and 1 six. Glorious knock! pic.twitter.com/o4B7ugfE8G

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) March 4, 2022

Hayley Matthews becomes the first player to score a hundred in the Women's ODI World Cup 2022, just 23 year old, she has taken Women's cricket by storm in last few years.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 4, 2022

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