Megan Schutt hat-trick seals 3-0 ODI series sweep

Megan Schutt became the first Australia women cricketer to take an ODI hat-trick in a thumping eight-wicket win over West Indies in the third and final contest of a three-match series on Wednesday.

READ: Ellyse Perry 3rd woman cricketer to take 150 ODI wickets

With this win, the tourists completed a 3-0 series sweep.

Schutt (3/24) dismissed Chinelle Henry, Karishma Ramharack and Afy Fletcher off the final three deliveries of the 50th over as the hosts were bowled out for 180 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. She is the 11th women cricketer to have achieved the feat.

Schutt is also the first Australian women to pick a T20I hat-trick.

Australia chased down the target in 31.1 overs thanks to a quickfire half-century from opener Alyssa Healy (61 off 32) and an unbeaten 58 from Meg Lanning. Allrounder Ellyse Perry, who earlier took 1/18, scored 33 not out.

West Indies lost Reniece Boyce (1) in the second over after opting to bat first, hoping to end the series with a win having lost the opening two matches. Kyshona Knight and Britney Cooper repaired the early damage, adding 41 runs for the second wicket. The promising stand broke when Cooper was caught for 16 in the 17th over. Another decent partnership followed but that too was cut short when a well-set Knight (40) was bowled by Jess Jonassen (2/8).  From thereon, wickets kept falling regularly and by 36th over, West Indies were 104/6 when Stacy-Ann King was removed on 12.

However, Chinelle Henry (39) and Sheneta Grimmond (34) gave hope to their team with the best partnership of the innings – 64 runs – taking the score to 168/6. Ashleigh Gardner (2/23) broke the partnership with the scalp of Grimmond before Schutt hastened the end.

Australia sailed to the target with Healy belting 11 fours and a six in a blazing start, adding 71 in 7.4 overs with Rachael Haynes (19) before being dismissed. Captain Lanning and Perry shared an unbroken 85-run stand for the third wicket to take their team over the line.

Brief Scores: Australia women 182/2 in 31.1 overs (Alyssa Healy 61, Meg Lanning 58*; Stafanie Taylor 1/25) vs West Indies women 180 in 50 overs (Kyshona Knight 40, Chinelle Henry 39; Megan Schutt 3/24, Jess Jonassen 2/8) by eight wickets