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Hayley Matthews has once again proven why she’s considered one of the brightest stars in women’s cricket. In a thrilling display of dominance, Matthews has stormed back into the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings‘ top five, claiming the fifth spot after a series of sensational performances in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier. Her unbeaten 114 against Scotland and a breathtaking 70 off just 29 balls against Thailand showcased her form and hunger to lead from the front. Despite the personal triumph, her heroics weren’t enough to carry West Indies to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, as the team heartbreakingly missed out on qualification by a razor-thin margin — just 0.013 on net run rate.
Hayley Matthews blazes trails with the willow reclaiming her spot in top 5
Matthews’ 70-run blitz helped secure a six-wicket win over Thailand with a staggering 235 balls to spare, earning her the Player of the Match award. Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed by the cricketing world — the all-rounder leapt two spots to fifth in the batting rankings, overtaking heavyweights Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy. What’s even more impressive? She also maintained her top-tier status in other disciplines — ninth in bowling and third among all-rounders. The West Indies skipper ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, with 13 wickets, cementing her reputation as a complete cricketer.
West Indies suffer a heartbreak end to their qualifying campaign
While Matthews soared, the West Indies’ World Cup dreams fizzled out in cruel fashion. Despite the dominant victory against Thailand, the side couldn’t surpass Bangladesh’s net run rate. Bangladesh clinched the second qualification slot, joining hosts Pakistan in the 2025 showpiece event in India. The sting of that narrow miss was deepened by individual successes within the team. Afy Fletcher returned to her career-best 21st position in the bowling rankings, while Karishma Ramharack jumped five spots to 25th. Yet, it wasn’t enough to tilt fate in their favour.
Matthews’ resurgence is not a surprise to those who’ve tracked her journey. Born in Barbados in 1998, she was a trailblazer from the start — the first girl to captain a boys’ under-13 team at Harrison College. Making her international debut at just 16, Matthews quickly stamped her authority as a world-class all-rounder, playing a pivotal role in West Indies’ 2016 T20 World Cup victory. Her achievements have only grown since then: from international accolades to dominating franchise cricket, including two title-winning WPL season with Mumbai Indians in 2023 and 2025.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
