Matthews' all-round brilliance downs Devine's ton in thrilling World Cup opener

Sophie Devine's sensational century kept New Zealand's chase on track for the most part but West Indies fought back brilliantly towards the end to put the first points on the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup table.

Katey Martin and Jess Kerr's quickfire 40-run partnership brought it down to run-a-ball for the last over but the wheels came off dramatically for New Zealand. Deandra Dottin, bowling her first over of the game, held her nerve to pick two wickets and effect a run-out as West Indies emerged victorious.

Hayley Matthews, who scored a superb 119 from just 128 balls batting first, picked two wickets for 41 to cap off a Player of the Match-winning display. Her batting effort helped West Indies post a competitive 259/9.

Devine century keeps chase on track

The White Ferns were unlucky to lose a wicket early in their chase – Bates was run-out at the non-striker's end after a deflection off the outstretched fingers of Chinelle Henry. Amelia Kerr and the skipper got the team through to the end of Powerplay without further harm.

Sensational with the bat, Matthews was effective with the ball as well, trapping the in-form Amelia Kerr in front of the stumps off just her second ball to break the 33-run stand.

Still 213 runs away from victory at that point, New Zealand had to adopt a cautious approach. Amy Satterthwaite and captain Devine kept the scoreboard ticking with good running between the wickets.

Devine soon brought up her half-century, and at the halfway point, New Zealand were in a competitive position. West Indies, meanwhile, had some fitness concerns with Shamilia Connell having to walk off the field after injuring her fingers while fielding.

Bowlers turn the tables for West Indies

Just when the pair started to look comfortable at the crease, needing under six runs per over in the last 25, Anisa Mohammed turned the game on its head with two quick scalps. She trapped Satterthwaite leg before wicket for 31 and then bowled Lea Tahuhu through the gate in her next over.

The White Ferns' opener motored on but kept losing partners at the other end – Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday walked back in quick succession without troubling the scorers too much before Katey Martin took the pressure off her skipper with a few boundaries.

West Indies were guilty of being sloppy in the field, dropping several chances and Devine made full use of those reprieves en route to her sixth ODI hundred. It took a moment of brilliance to dismiss the New Zealand captain as Chinelle Henry took a stunning, tumbling return catch to bring an end to a great innings.

At the fall of the wicket, New Zealand still needed 45 from 35 balls. Jess Kerr took the attack to the bowlers and together with Martin, brought the equation down to six runs in the last over.

Trusted with bowling her first over in a crunch situation, Dottin delivered the goods for her team. She trapped Martin lbw off the second ball of the over and then snared Kerr two balls later to bring it down to four off two.

Hannah Rowe missed the penultimate delivery and Fran Jonas, in an attempt to sneak a bye, was run-out at the non-striker's end to spark huge celebrations from the West Indies team.

Matthews the lone warrior with the bat

New Zealand made early inroads after opting to bat and got two wickets in the Powerplay. Deandra Dottin started the World Cup with fireworks, smashing three fours in the first over, but was back in the pavilion for 12 after Tahuhu induced a leading edge.

Jess Kerr soon got the wicket of Kycia Knight, who skied the ball into the hands of mid-off. Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, West Indies finished the Powerplay in a good position, with Hayley Matthews scoring 29 out of her team's 54.

Matthews soon got to her fifty in the 18th over and with Stafanie Taylor keeping her company, added 66 runs for the third wicket. The batters mixed caution with aggression, and ensured the scoreboard was kept ticking.

Devine turned to Tahuhu again, with both batters looking set, and the move reaped immediate rewards. Trying to tickle the ball down to fine leg, Taylor edged it to the safe hands of Katey Martin behind the stumps.

Matthews was once again involved in a solid partnership, this time with Shemaine Campbelle – the pair added 60 runs for the fourth wicket. The latter was lucky to survive after a catch was dropped, but eventually she fell to Amelia Kerr for 20.

Matthews finally got to her century, her first in ICC Women's World Cups, and she teed off thereafter. The West Indies opener hit 16 fours and a massive six during her entertaining knock, and most of the New Zealand bowlers were on the receiving end of the onslaught.

Jess Kerr finally brought an end to her innings as Matthews holed off in the deep. The White Ferns picked up four wickets in the last four overs to keep West Indies to 259/9.

Veteran seamer Lea Tahuhu (3/57) was expensive in her nine overs, while Fran Jones (0/39 off six overs) also allowed the batting side to score at better than run-a-ball. The Kerr sisters Jess (2/43) and Amelia (1/33) were economical in comparison.