The West Indies’ performances in the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup were a rollercoaster ride of emotions, full of sparkle and close defeats. Despite the defeat in the semifinal stages, the West Indies did nothing but leave an indelible mark on the tourney with some outstanding performances. Having narrowly missed a final berth, the West Indies have shown determination, skills, and aggression in the Women’s T20 World Cup.
In this blog, we will take a look at Hayley Matthews’ team’s journey in the all-important Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Let’s check out:
Warm-up matches
The West Indies began their campaign on a challenging note during the warm-up matches. The preparations for the Women’s T20 World Cup also meant facing two tough opponents, India and Australia. In the first warm-up, they went short against India when chasing 142 and lost the match by 20 runs.
The second warm-up against Australia went worse for them as they were bowled out for 109, finishing 35 runs short of the target. These early losses pushed West Indies back on their heels, but they entered the proper tournament well-rested and with a sharper mind.
League-stage
West Indies in the Women’s T20 World Cup were seen facing a daunting South Africa side in their first group stage match. Setting a target of 119 runs, West Indies were cloaked out as South Africa breezed to the total without losing a wicket, sending the Caribbean side packing with a ten-wicket defeat. After the loss, the women in maroon side caught themselves quickly knowing they have more than enough talent to get back to winning ways for their games forward.
Their fortunes changed in the game against Scotland the next day when the West Indies in the Women’s T20 World Cup finally came out themselves. Batting first, they managed to stop Scotland at a meagre 99/8 and then chased it down without breaking a sweat. They were left with 50 overs but easily won the game by the comfortable margin of 50 balls to win their very first match of the tournament. This victory ignited confidence in the team and set the tone for their games.
They then went on to beat Bangladesh again in the next match. They chased their score of 103 in under 12.5 overs. In the last league stage game, the West Indies women’s T20 group defeated England, securing their spot in the semis in the process. Chasing 142, they won by 6 wickets with 12 balls to spare.
Check out: New Zealand defeat West Indies in Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 semifinal, qualify for final against South Africa
Top West Indies players in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
Coming to their top players in the tournament, Fletcher was one of the notable contributors during the Women’s T20 World Cup. She had 10 wickets in five matches and finished second on the top wicket-takers list after the tournament. Fletcher with the ball had been quite consistent for the side, converting many crucial overbreaks in the middle overs into crucial victories for the West Indies. She had some spellbinding control and contained the opponents so well that helped West Indies win quite a few games.
Dottin took the lead from the bat and established herself in the Women’s T20 World Cup. She scored 120 runs at an average of 40 from five matches and faced only 74 balls in the entire tournament. Deandra Dottin’s aggressive striking, especially her nine sixes, the most by any player in the tournament, were a testament to her power-hitting prowess and match-winning abilities. Her sparkling innings, especially under pressure, made her one of the most glamorous batters of the tournament.
Final Words:
The West Indies in the Women’s T20 World Cup journeyed sufficiently but again came short of their target against New Zealand in the semifinals. Setting a target of 129, Dottin once more took the responsibility on her shoulders by hitting 33 off 22 balls, but the West Indies could finish agonizingly close at 120/8. New Zealand saw some excellent bowling by Eden Carson, who took 3/29 to put out the West Indies’ dream of reaching the finals.
Though this campaign was a disappointment, it was an excellent growth pattern for the Women’s T20 West Indies. They salvaged themselves from the early setbacks, got some match-winning performances, and marched into the semis with pride. The mainstay of the campaign was Afy Fletcher’s stand-through bowling and Deandra Dottin’s blitz. Although they are not competing in the final, the West Indies showed enough promise to allay fears about their future prospects, leaving fans believing that they are a team to watch for the coming years.
Also, see:
South Africa Women Qualify for T20 World Cup 2024 final
