After being swept 3-0 by England in a T20 International, some would have cut a disappointed figure, but West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has kept her focus firmly on the positives and the possibilities that lie ahead.
Following a spirited 17-run loss in the final T20I on Monday, Matthews believes her team has laid a strong foundation to build on as they prepare for the upcoming three-match ODI series. In fact, for Matthews, who once again stood tall with both bat and ball —scoring 71 and picking up three wickets — the narrow defeat was less a loss and more a sign of growth.
They lost the first two games by eight and nine wickets, respectively.
"Yeah, 100%,” she said when asked whether she would trade her standout individual performance for a win.
"It was really good to get some runs and wickets, but it was a much closer game, and one where we really felt we competed well. So we would have loved to get over the line, but there's definitely a lot we can take forward," Matthews added.
Matthews has been in sensational form over the last year and a half and has consistently led from the front. The all-rounder credited experience and strategic clarity for her evolution.
"I think just having really strong plans and playing to my strengths at all times. I’ve been fortunate enough to play a lot of T20 cricket around the world and gain a lot of experience and learn a lot more about my game and just put my plans into practise. And thankfully, since I've been here, I've been able to execute pretty well," she stated.
Perhaps the biggest silver lining for the West Indies came in the form of youthful promise. The final T20I saw several younger players rise to the occasion — a key priority for Matthews and the coaching staff in this developmental phase.
“Yeah, I am really happy. I think Jahzara Claxton came in and bowled beautifully. Not only did she get her first wicket, but she also showcased her talent with the amount of variations that she was able to use. And then Realeanna Grimmond, in her second match, definitely looked a lot better at the crease, which I know she'll be happy about. So super proud that they were able to get an opportunity," Matthews noted.
The West Indies appeared much sharper in the final match, particularly in the field and with the ball, and Matthews believes that renewed energy and execution reflect the kind of fight her team is capable of.
With the ODI series set to begin on Friday, Matthews is hopeful the longer format will provide a better stage for her players, especially the batters, to showcase their skills.
"I think we definitely did a lot better and executed our plans a lot nicer when we were bowling. But yeah, unfortunately, we were just not able to chase it in the end. But the ODI series is obviously going to be a very hard one for us," Matthews admitted.
"I think this England squad is formidable, but at the same time I think it gives a lot of our batters the opportunity to just get to spend some time at the crease and hopefully bat for longer periods of time," she ended.