West Indies edge past England to reach the semifinals of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

In an all important clash at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, the West Indies showcased their strength by defeating England by 6 wickets with 12 balls remaining. The match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (October 15) saw England struggle to build momentum with the bat, managing only 141 runs. In contrast, the West Indies exhibited a solid batting performance, comfortably chasing the target in 18 overs. This victory not only secures their place in the semifinals but also underscores the competitive spirit of the tournament.

England innings: Fighting knock from Nat Sciver-Brunt

England faced a challenging start in their innings, posting a total of 141 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs. The innings were marked by a lack of substantial partnerships, which hindered their scoring rate. Nat Sciver-Brunt emerged as the standout performer, anchoring the innings with a resilient 57 not out off 50 balls, which included five boundaries. Early wickets fell as Maia Bouchier (14) and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (16) failed to convert their starts into bigger scores, leaving England struggling at 29 for 1 after 3.5 overs.

Captain Heather Knight contributed a quick 21 runs before retiring hurt, further complicating England’s quest for a competitive total. The middle order faltered under pressure, with the West Indies bowlers applying relentless pressure throughout. Afy Fletcher was the standout bowler for the West Indies, claiming 3 wickets for 21 runs in her four overs, effectively dismantling the English batting lineup and limiting their scoring opportunities.

Also READ: Punam Raut takes a subtle dig at Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. after India’s exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

West Indies’ commanding chase: Explosive batting by Qiana Joseph and Deandra Dottin

In response, the West Indies displayed remarkable composure and skill while chasing down the target of 142 runs. They achieved this with 142/4 in just 18 overs. The openers set a strong foundation, with Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph both contributing half-centuries. Matthews played aggressively, scoring 50 runs off 38 balls, including seven fours and a six, while Joseph mirrored her performance with an equally impressive 52 runs off 38 balls.

Despite a minor wobble, losing a few quick wickets, including that of Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle, who managed just 5 runs, the West Indies maintained their momentum. Deandra Dottin provided crucial support, scoring 27 off 19 balls, ensuring the chase remained on track. Aaliyah Alleyne finished the game off with a composed 6 not out off 4 balls, capping off a convincing victory that secured the West Indies’ place in the tournament’s semifinals.

Outstanding knock from Qiana Joseph 👏#women #cricket #ENGvWI #T20WorldCup #CricketTwitter #WomenCricket pic.twitter.com/eqWSD8y36P

— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) October 15, 2024

WI Believed, and WI did it!💪🏾

An ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Semifinals spot secured for the 1st time since 2018!💥 #WIBelieve | #MaroonWarriors | #WIWin pic.twitter.com/GCTbYoxRsr

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) October 15, 2024

Also READ: 3 key reasons behind Team India’s early exit from Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.