West Indies Surge Into Women’s T20 World Cup Semi-Finals with Stunning Victory Over England
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — In a thrilling display of cricket, the West Indies women’s team convincingly defeated England by six wickets, securing their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup. This stunning victory was propelled by an explosive opening partnership between Qiana Joseph and Captain Hayley Matthews.
Joseph delivered a remarkable performance, scoring her maiden T20 international half-century with a blistering 52 runs. Matthews, leading from the front, matched her partner’s vigor with a 38-ball 50, guiding the West Indies to surpass England’s total of 141-7 in just 18 overs.
South Africa also advanced to the semi-finals from Group B, while England faced the disappointment of an early exit from the tournament. Speaking after the match, Matthews expressed immense pride in her team’s resilient performance, remarking, “Up against the odds tonight, but to put up a performance like that with the bat, with Joseph scoring her first T20I fifty – what a time to do that.”
Matthews wasted no time setting the tone for West Indies’ chase, launching a fierce onslaught in the very first over bowled by Lauren Bell. Joseph soon joined in, adding pressure on the English attack by dispatching Sophie Ecclestone to the boundary with ease. The dynamic duo propelled the West Indies to a formidable 55-0 within the first five overs.
England’s fielding was notably lax, with the team dropping five catches at crucial moments, further aiding the West Indies’ pursuit. Joseph’s outstanding innings came to an end in the 13th over, marked by two sixes and six fours, shortly followed by Matthews’ departure. However, the dependable Deandra Dottin chipped in with 27 runs, sealing the historic win over England, marking the West Indies’ first victory against them in 14 matches and their first away win in a decade.
England’s skipper, Heather Knight, was candid in acknowledging the excellence of the West Indies’ performance, stating, “Credit to them, they came at us hard, played the conditions well and put us under the pump. Tough to take but credit to Hayley and her team.”
Earlier, England’s innings were stifled early on with Danni Wyatt-Hodge falling for 16 due to a brilliant catch by Dottin off Matthews’ bowling. The West Indies’ formidable bowling duo of Dottin and Afy Fletcher further dented England’s hopes with key wickets, reducing them to a precarious 34-3 by the seventh over.
Knight, along with Nat Sciver-Brunt, mounted a crucial recovery effort with a 46-run partnership. However, Knight’s innings was cut short by a calf strain, and Fletcher capitalized with successive strikes, dismissing Amy Jones and Charlie Dean.
Sciver-Brunt stood out among England’s batters with an impressive, unbeaten 57 off 50 balls, though her efforts fell short in the face of the West Indies’ commanding display.
The West Indies’ victory not only secured them a semifinal berth but also marked a significant triumph in their T20 cricket journey, setting up an exciting next stage in the tournament.
