The West Indies clinched a remarkable ODI series victory against England by winning the third one-day international at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on December 9. Matthew Forde, making a dream debut, stole the spotlight with a stellar performance, notably a fiery spell of 3/29 in the first innings.
Opening with the new ball, Forde orchestrated the English batters and capitalized on the favorable overcast conditions. His skillful performance limited the visitors to 45/3, enabling the West Indies to confine England to 206/9 in the 40 overs (the match was shortened to 40 overs for the first innings due to rain).
The target for the hosts in the second innings was adjusted to 188 runs to be chased down in 34 overs. Alick Athanaze contributed 45, and a half-century from Keacy Carty set the foundation. Later, a partnership of 56 runs between Romario Shepherd (45*) and Matthew Forde guided the West Indies to victory.
Unbeaten at 13, Forde rightfully earned the Player of the Match title for his remarkable performance. Substituting for Oshane Thomas in the third ODI, the 21-year-old Forde instantly made an impact.
Despite his young age, Forde has consistently proven to be a valuable asset for any team he’s been a part of. Although this was his debut international game, here are five intriguing facts about Matthew Forde that may be unfamiliar to you.
#1 Forde is good at batting
Matthew Forde is mainly known as a skilled right-arm pacer, but he’s also quite capable with the bat. Often batting at No. 7 or 8, he demonstrated his batting prowess on his ODI debut against England, contributing a crucial unbeaten 13, which included a four.
His composed performance, particularly in the match-winning partnership with Romario Shepherd, suggests that with further improvement in his batting skills, Forde could become a significant asset for the West Indies.
#2 He has participated in various T20 tournaments globally
Forde, at a young age, ventured into various T20 leagues worldwide. He secured a contract with St. Lucia Kings for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022 when he was just 20. Having continued with the franchise in the 2023 edition, Forde has claimed a total of 15 wickets in as many CPL matches.
In December 2022, he participated in the Lankan Premier League (LPL) as a member of the Dambulla Vikings (now called Dambulla Aura). Additionally, Forde was selected by Surrey Jaguars for the Global T20 league 2023 held in July and August. Despite reaching the final, his team, unfortunately, lost to the Montreal Tigers.
#3 He played for the West Indies in the Under-19 World Cup in 2020
Matthew Forde participated in the Under-19 ODI World Cup for the West Indies in 2020, held in South Africa. The championship was claimed by Bangladesh, defeating India in the final.
Forde showcased his skills in three matches for the U-19 West Indies team during the tournament, securing an impressive six wickets with an average of 20.33.
#2 Forde shared the title of the leading wicket-taker in the GT20 Canada 2023
Forde’s outstanding performances this year earned him a spot in the West Indies’ senior ODI team. While representing Surrey Jaguars in the Global T20 Canada earlier in the year, the right-arm bowler showcased excellent leadership of the bowling unit.
Across eight games in the tournament, Forde secured an impressive 15 wickets at a remarkable average of 10.80. His 18 wickets were on par with Junaid Siddiqui, making them the joint-highest wicket-takers in the competition.
#1 He delivered one of the most exceptional individual performances in LPL 2022
In 2022, Forde’s exceptional all-round display for Dambulla in the Lankan Premier League included a crucial four-wicket haul for 11 runs against Galle Gladiators.
Additionally, he played a key role in the chase, scoring 52 runs at a strike rate of 173.33, forming a decisive partnership of 79 runs with Jordan Cox. This stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match award in the victory against Galle Gladiators.
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