[UPDATED] West Indies women storm into T20 World Cup semis with win over England

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: 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 semifinal 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 overs.

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 semifinal of a T20 World Cup since 2018.

Australia will play South Africa in the first semifinal 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 the injured 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. CMC

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND

Maia Bouchier c Joseph b Fletcher*14

Danni Wyatt-Hodge c Dottin b Matthews*16

Alice Capsey run out*1

Nat Sciver-Brunt not out*57

*Heather Knight retired hurt*21

+Amy Jones c Dottin b Fletcher*7

Charlie Dean c Matthews b Fletcher*5

Danielle Gibson c Fletcher b Dottin*7

Sophie Ecclestone c Dottin b Matthews*7

Sarah Glenn not out*1

Extras (lb2, w3)*5

TOTAL (seven wickets; 20 overs)*141

Did not bat: Lauren Bell.

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-31, 3-34, 4-94, 5-104, 6-126, 7-135.

Bowling: Henry 2-0-14-0, James 2-0-10-0, Matthews 4-0-35-2, Alleyne 3-0-23-0, Fletcher 4-0-21-3, Dottin 3-0-16-1, Munisar 1-0-11-0, Ramharack 1-0-9-0.

WEST INDIES

*Hayley Matthews c Gibson b Glenn*50

Qiana Joseph c Wyatt b Sciver-Brunt*52

+Shemaine Campbelle run out*5

Deandra Dottin b Ecclestone*27

Chinelle Henry not out*0

Aaliyah Alleyne not out*8

Extras (w2)*2

TOTAL (four wickets; 18 overs)*144

Did not bat: Chedean Nation, Zaida James, Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack.

Fall of wickets: 1-102, 2-104, 3-136, 4-136.

Bowling: Bell 3-0-22-0, Sciver-Brunt 4-0-33-1, Dean 4-0-46-0, Ecclestone 4-0-23-1, Glenn 3-0-20-1.

Result: West Indies won by six wickets.

Player-of-the-Match: Qiana Joseph.

Umpires: Eloise Sheridan, Sarah Dambanevana.

TV Umpire: Claire Polosak.

Match Referee: Shandre Fritz.

Reserve Umpire: Vrinda Rathi

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

West Indies women stormed into the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals after outplaying England by six wickets at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, on October 15.

Two half-centuries from openers Qiana Joseph (52) and skipper Hayley Matthews (50) combined for a stellar 102-run opening stance, which set the stage for a target-achieving total of 142/4, in reply to England’s 141/7.

The victory for the Windies women (six points) saw them climb from third to first in Pool B with a superior net run rate (NRR) of +1.504. The result also removed England (six points) from pole position and into third, and inevitably, out the tournament.

South Africa (six points) also advanced to the semis in second place with a NRR of +1.382 as compared to England’s +1.117.

Sent in to bat, England stumbled to 34/3 courtesy neat catches from Joseph and Deandra Dottin. Dottin also made the highlight reel for an impressive piece of fielding to remove Alice Capsey (one).

Nat Sciver-Brunt rescued the innings with a well-played, unbeaten 57 from 50 balls. Skipper Heather Knight (21) also had a fiery stint in the middle before retiring hurt.

Any Fletcher, Dottin and Matthews squeezed the England batters in the final few overs, which saw them restricted to 141/7 after 20 overs.

Leg-spinner Any Fletcher (3/21) was the pick of the bowlers and off-spinner Matthews (2/35) also bagged a couple.

In reply, West Indies women showed clear intent, with a commanding 36 runs coming from the first three overs. Matthews and Joseph beat the English bowlers around the park, adding to their frustration.

At the halfway mark, West Indies were 89 without loss, needing a comfortable 53 runs from 60 balls.

Brunt had Joseph caught out by Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the 13th over and Sarah Glen removed Matthews, caught by Danielle Gibson, five balls later.

With the openers gone, Dottin opened to blast a quick-fire 27 from 19 balls. Shemaine Campbelle scored five.

After 15 overs, West Indies women needed 30 from 30, and despite losing Campbelle and Dottin later on, Aaliyah Alleyne (eight not out) and Chinelle Henry (zero not out) took them over the line with two overs to spare.

Matthew’s half-century was her 14th in T20Is, and Joseph scored her debut T20I 50.

West Indies now face New Zealand women in semifinal two on October 18 from 10am (TT time).

The first semi bowls off on October 17 between Australia and South Africa, from the same time.

SCORES

ENGLAND 141-7 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 57 not out, Heather Knight 21 retired hurt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge 16, Maia Bouchier 14; Afy Fletcher 3-21, Hayley Matthews 2-35).

WEST INDIES 144-4 in 18 overs (Qiana Joseph 52, Hayley Matthews 50, Deandra Dottin 27).

Reporting by Jonathan Ramnanansingh