West Indies Women book semi-final berth with clinical win over England

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC):

WEST INDIES Women saved their best performance of the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for when it mattered most, in a clinical six-wicket victory over England Women that saw them progress to the semi-final round.

In a must-win game, Qiana Joseph scored her first-ever T20 half century for the West Indies and captain Hayley Matthews struck an even 50, as the Caribbean side chased down England’s 141 for seven in 20 overs, finishing on 144 for four off 18.

The victory was the West Indies Women’s first win over England Women since 2018, and snapped a 13-game losing streak.

The result helped the Windies top Group B, while eliminating England from the tournament with South Africa advancing in second position on net run rate after all three teams finished on six points.

It also marks the first time the West Indies Women have qualified for the semi-final of a T20 World Cup since 2018.

Australia will play South Africa in the first semi-final on Thursday, while the Windies and New Zealand will battle on Friday for a spot in the final.

Playing in her 100th T20 international, skipper Matthews and Joseph added 102 runs in an opening partnership that put them in firm control.

It was an especially impressive showing by Joseph, who opened in place of Stafanie Taylor, who was ruled out with a leg injury.

Matthews wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard, blasting fast bowler Lauren Bell’s second delivery of the innings over the boundary at long leg.

Two balls later, she guided Bell past short fine leg for four and then ended off the over that leaked 14 runs with another boundary over mid-off.

Joseph sent Nat Sciver-Brunt to the boundary on two occasions in the next over, as West Indies raced to 26 without loss.

An aggressive Joseph then clobbered off-spinner Charlie Deane for a six over midwicket and followed it up with successive boundaries off left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone in the fourth over.

Joseph was lucky not to be dismissed by Sciver-Brunt when she was 31, but Alice Capsey spilled the opportunity.

They were made to pay for the chance, and Matthews brought up the West Indies’ 50 in the fifth over when she tickled Sciver-Brunt to fine leg for four.

Matthews continued her assault by hitting Dean for three more boundaries in the sixth over as West Indies ended the power play on 67 without loss.

Joseph moved into the 40s after surviving another chance, this time Maia Bouchier dropping the catch at deep midwicket.

Bouchier gave Joseph a third lifeline when she got both hands to Joseph’s slug that went to deep midwicket, but she palmed the ball over the rope for six.

Joseph eventually brought up her maiden T20 half century off 34 balls when she whipped leg-spinner Sarah Glenn to deep midwicket for a single.

Her luck eventually ran out when she was caught by Danni Wyatt-Hodge for 52 off 38 balls, inclusive of two sixes and six fours.

Matthews brought up her 14th T20I fifty shortly afterwards, but, with the score 104 for one, she was back in the pavilion after miscuing a pull off Glenn to be out for 50 from 38 balls. Her knock contained seven fours and one six.

Her dismissal brought Deandra Dottin to the crease and she ensured the West Indies stayed in the ascendancy by clobbering Deane for two sixes and a four in the 16th over to leave her team needing 14 runs from 24 balls.

And, even though both Shemaine Campbelle and Dottin lost their wickets, Aaliyah Alleyne held her nerve to end the contest by driving Ecclestone to the cover boundary to spark wild celebrations among the West Indies camp.

West Indies’ bowlers had earlier laid the groundwork by restricting England, with only Nat Sciver-Brunt putting up any real resistance.

Sciver-Brunt scored an unbeaten 57 from 50 balls, but England’s innings fell back once captain Heather Knight was forced to retire hurt on 21, with the score 80 for three.

Afy Fletcher was the main destroyer with 3-21 from her four overs, while Matthews took 2-35.