Powerful h a 1 f -centuries from Hayley . IX— Matthews and skipper Stafanie Taylor fired the West Indies to india z° theij- maiden women's World Twenty20 crown in a thrilling last-over win against Australia in Sunday's final in Kolkata.

Chasing a competitive 149 for a win against the three-time champions, West Indies rode a blistering 120-run opening stand between Matthews and Taylor to triumph with three balls to spare.

They won by eight wickets at the Eden Gardens as they picked up a first win against Australia in their ninth attempt

Player of the match Matthews and Tayloracquired 16 runs offthe sixth over.

A destructive Matthews clobbered three sixes and six boundaries during her 45-ball blitz that made the Aussie bowling attack appear pedestrian.

Taylor played a more sedate but commanding innings to lead the Windies to an historic title after three previous failed semifinal attempts.

Leg-spinner Kristen Beams got Mathews caught at mid-wicket in the 16th over and 18 balls later Rene Farrell saw the back of Taylor but the wickets only proved to be minor hiccups on the Windies' road to victory.

Wild celebrations erupted from the Caribbean dugout as Britney Cooper hit the winning runs to script a new chapter in Windies women's cricket.

The Caribbean women danced with their male counterparts, who won the men's final later last night.

The West Indies men completed a rare hat-trick after the Under-19 boys lifted the youth World Cup in February.

Earlier after electing to bat, skipper Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani helped Australia post 148 for five.

The Aussies lost opener Alyssa Healy early but a 77-run second wicket

partnership between Lanning (52) and Villani (52) set the tone for a formidable score.