Hayley Matthews cut a frustrated but composed figure after her heroic all-round performance was not enough to lift West Indies past Scotland in their opening ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier on Wednesday.The captain’s honest post-match reflection captured the heartbreak of the moment.“I would have preferred to score zero and take no wickets if it meant that we were going to win the match,” Matthews said, moments after her team suffered an 11-run defeat in a game they were heavily favoured to win.Forced to retire hurt twice during her knock, Matthews battled through pain and adversity to produce a stunning 114 not out off 113 balls—an innings laced with 14 boundaries and grit. She also picked up four wickets for 56 runs earlier in the day, leading from the front in every department.But despite her brilliance, the West Indies fell short, bowled out for 233 in 46.2 overs while chasing Scotland’s 244.Now, with the tournament allowing just the top two teams to qualify for the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, the loss leaves Matthews and her squad with no room for error in their remaining four matches.
