The West Indies women's cricket team has silenced their critics by advancing to the semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup, set to face New Zealand on Friday. This achievement comes after a string of disappointments in the past two editions, where they were eliminated in the group stage. Their journey in the UAE began with a disheartening 10-wicket loss to South Africa, but a stunning victory over England, their first since 2018, has propelled them to the brink of the final.
Captain Hayley Matthews acknowledged that many had written off the team before the tournament began. "The way we've been able to go about our cricket, especially after the start we had against South Africa, we've just bounced back against Scotland, against Bangladesh," she said. "We haven't beat England in about six years. As far as I can remember, the last time we beat them was back in 2018, but everyone still came here with a belief and a fight and it just shows what we can do as a West Indian team."
Traditionally, the West Indies have leaned heavily on key players like Matthews, Stafanie Taylor, and Deandra Dottin. Dottin's return from international retirement has been pivotal, but other players have also stepped up their game. Leg-spinner Afy Fletcher took 3-21 against England, while opening batter Qiana Joseph contributed a crucial 52. The Windies have hit more sixes than any other team in the tournament so far, with Joseph and Matthews combining for a tournament-high 67 runs against England in the powerplay.
Their impressive performance ensured they topped Group B, avoiding a semi-final clash with overwhelming favorites Australia. New Zealand, who have also exceeded expectations by reaching the semis, will be the West Indies' next challenge. Meanwhile, Australia, aiming for a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup title, has breezed through the knock-out phase, extending their winning streak to 15 matches. However, they face injury concerns, particularly with captain and opener Alyssa Healy, whose participation in the knockouts remains uncertain.
South Africa, who are playing in the semi-finals for the third consecutive T20 World Cup, will face Australia in Dubai on Thursday. Despite a narrow defeat in the final last year, they will be confident of pushing the six-time champions.
