Australia’s women have sealed the one-day international series against the West Indies with a game to spare, securing a 90-run victory in St Kitts to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
The win, built on a battling batting performance and a devastating spin attack, continues the world number one side’s dominance on tour, having already swept the three-match T20I series.
Australia’s Recovery After Early Jitters
Choosing to bat first at Warner Park, Australia found themselves in a precarious position at 82-4 in the 16th over. The slide was triggered by West Indies off-spinner Ashmini Munisar, who claimed two wickets in two balls to dismiss Georgia Voll for 23 and then the prized scalp of Ellyse Perry for a golden duck – only the third time in 166 ODIs the veteran all-rounder has fallen first ball.
It fell to the experienced Beth Mooney, who top-scored with a patient 65 from 104 deliveries, to steady the innings. She shared a crucial 58-run partnership with stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath, who made 24. A valuable 39 from number seven Georgia Wareham then helped push the total to a competitive 269-7 from their 50 overs.
The Collapse Unfolds
In reply, the ninth-ranked West Indies, led by captain Hayley Matthews, were tracking nicely at 92-1 after 23 overs. Matthews, on 45, was given a life when dropped by Alana King, but could only add a single more run before McGrath held a catch off her own bowling.
That dismissal opened the floodgates for a catastrophic collapse of 7-34 on a turning Warner Park pitch. In the very next over, player of the match Georgia Wareham produced a delivery that tickled the off-stump of the other set batter, Stafanie Taylor, for 18. She then trapped the dangerous hard-hitter Deandra Dottin leg before wicket for a fourth-ball duck.
At the other end, Ash Gardner was equally instrumental, having earlier taken a caught-and-bowled to remove opener Qiana Joseph for 29. The Australian spinners ran riot, with Wareham finishing with 3-29 and Gardner 3-34, exploiting the conditions to dismantle the West Indies’ middle and lower order.
The hosts’ innings eventually subsided to 179 all out in the 46th over, but not before a stubborn last-wicket stand of 49 between Afy Fletcher (32 not out) and Karishma Ramharack (14) provided some late resistance. McGrath finally ended the match, taking the final catch off her own bowling to dismiss Ramharack.
The match was played under the stewardship of McGrath, with new all-format captain Sophie Molineux managing a recent back injury from the sidelines. The series forms part of the 2025-2029 ICC Women’s Championship and serves as a final major outing for both teams before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England this June.
The final ODI of the series will be played on Friday (AEDT) at the same venue. The tour, which runs from 19 March to 2 April 2026 and is televised by ESPN Caribbean in the region, marks the beginning of a new era for Australia following the retirement of former captain Alyssa Healy.
