[UPDATED] WI women snap nine-game T20 skid vs India, level series 1-1

WEST INDIES women's skipper Hayley Matthews put in a terrific allround performance in the second Twenty/20 against India at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai as the visitors stormed to a comprehensive nine-wicket win to level the series at 1-1 on December 17.

West Indies' win was their first over India in the T20 format since the regional team got a 3-0 series sweep in November 2016, ending a nine-game losing skid against their counterparts in T20s.

"I think it would mean a lot to the group if we win the series, but we know in order to do that we have to come back a few days from now and play just as good as we did today or even better," Matthews said.

"We know it's not going to be easy work...I think that's a massive feat for us," Matthews said, of her team's win. "However, we feel it's just the beginning and these are the type of performances we want to be consistent with."

Batting first, India made 159 for nine, with Smriti Mandhana living a charmed life en route to top-scoring with 62 off 41 balls.

The Windies bowlers had a much better outing in comparison to the first T20, with Deandra Dottin leading the way with figures of two for 14 after sharing the new ball with Chinelle Henry. Leg-spinner Afy Fletcher (two for 28) and Matthews (two for 36) also chipped in with two wickets apiece.

"We probably knew we weren't up to scratch in that first game. We started it really slowly. It was definitely something we wanted to turn around...I think the pace with the new ball from Deandra and Chinelle, we took that momentum right through the game.

"I certainly enjoy the fact that Deandra's on my team and that I don't have to play against her. It's always great having such a great impact player within the side."

Led by Matthews' brilliant unbeaten 85 from 47 balls, which included 17 fours, the Windies were ruthless in pursuit of the 160-run target – romping to victory with 26 balls to spare.

Matthews was well supported by the aggressive Qiana Joseph (38 off 22), with the pair putting on 66 runs for the first wicket to give the Windies the ascendancy. The left-handed Joseph was put down twice in her cameo and struck six fours and two sixes before she was eventually dismissed by Saima Thakor in the seventh over.

Matthews said the ever-smiling 23-year-old St Lucian played her role to a T and took the pressure away.

"Qiana is someone who has really come into her role in the last few months. We would have seen her open (the batting) at the T20 World Cup and make her first fifty there.

"She has a clear role, and that's to go out there and be really aggressive and really fearless. That's exactly what she's doing and kudos to her for that."

Matthews was then joined by her vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle (29 not out off 26). Together, the pair put on an unbeaten 94-run stand for the second wicket, with the right-handed Matthews cutting loose as she brought up her 15th T20 fifty in stunning fashion.

In the 11th over, the stylish Matthews launched an assault on Radha Yadav – hitting her for four consecutive fours as she raced to fifty off 31 balls.

Matthews took West Indies' score past the 100-run mark in the process. The visitors cruised to the finish line afterward, with Matthews crashing three consecutive boundaries off Thakor in the 14th over as she continued her high-class display.

After scoring just one in the first game on Sunday, the Windies skipper was happy to be back among the runs.

Fittingly, Matthews scored the winning runs with a sweetly timed cover drive off Sajeevan Sajana in the 16th over.

Earlier, Mandhana was dropped in three consecutive overs by the Windies as she notched her second fifty of the series. Mandhana apart, only middle-order Richa Ghosh (32 off 17) made a meaningful contribution as the Windies bowlers held them to a score Matthews deemed par on the wicket.

Matthews said the team is striving to hit their usual heights as a fielding unit as they look forward to the third and final T20 on Thursday.

"I think as a team, we certainly want to do better in the field...I think everyone in the dressing room knows we aren't upholding those standards. I think it just comes down to the training at the park and...it's something we need to figure out really quickly as we're playing under lights so much more often these days."

Summarised scores:

INDIA: 159/9 from 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 62, Richa Ghosh 32, Deepti Sharma 17; Deandra Dottin 2/14, Afy Fletcher 2/28) vs WEST INDIES: 160/1 from 15.4 overs (Hayley Matthews 85 not out, Qiana Joseph 38, Shemaine Campbelle 29 not out; Saima Thakor 1/28). West Indies won by nine wickets.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

WEST INDIES women's skipper Hayley Matthews put in a terrific allround performance in the second Twenty/20 against India at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai as the visitors stormed to a comprehensive nine-wicket win to level the series at 1-1 on December 17.

India made 159 for nine after being sent in by Matthews, with Smriti Mandhana living a charmed life en route to top-scoring with 62 off 41 balls.

The Windies bowlers had a much better outing in comparison to the first T20, with Deandra Dottin leading the way with figures of two for 14 after sharing the new ball with Chinelle Henry. Leg-spinner Afy Fletcher (two for 28) and Matthews (two for 36) also chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Led by Matthews' brilliant unbeaten 85 from 47 balls, the Windies were ruthless in pursuit of the 160-run target – romping to victory with 26 balls to spare.

Matthews was well supported by the aggressive Qiana Joseph (38 off 22), with the pair putting on 66 runs for the first wicket to give the Windies the ascendancy. The left-handed Joseph was put down twice in her cameo and struck six fours and two sixes before she was eventually dismissed by Saima Thakor in the seventh over.

Matthews was then joined by her vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle (29 not out off 26). Together, the pair put on an unbeaten 94-run stand for the second wicket, with the right-handed Matthews cutting loose as she brought up her 15th T20 fifty in stunning fashion.

In the 11th over, the stylish Matthews launched an assault on Radha Yadav – hitting her for four consecutive fours as she raced to fifty off 31 balls.

Matthews took West Indies' score past the 100-run mark in the process. The visitors cruised to the finish line afterward, with Matthews crashing three consecutive boundaries off Thakor in the 14th over as she continued her high-class display.

Fittingly, Matthews scored the winning runs with a sweetly timed cover drive off Sajeevan Sajana in the 16th over.

Earlier, Mandhana was dropped in three consecutive overs by the Windies as she notched her second fifty of the series. Mandhana apart, only middle-order Richa Ghosh (32 off 17) made a meaningful contribution as the Winides bowlers held them to a score Matthews deemed par on the wicket.

The third and final T20 will be played on December 19.

Summarised scores:

INDIA: 159/9 from 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 62, Richa Ghosh 32, Deepti Sharma 17; Deandra Dottin 2/14, Afy Fletcher 2/28) vs WEST INDIES: 160/1 from 15.4 overs (Hayley Matthews 85 not out, Qiana Joseph 38, Shemaine Campbelle 29 not out; Saima Thakor 1/28). West Indies won by nine wickets.