DUBAI: Skipper Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph scored rampant half-centuries and propelled West Indies, alongside South Africa, into the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final as England crashed out.
West Indies’ eight-wicket victory knocked England out of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the former champions slipped down to third in Group B standings.
West Indies got off to a flamboyant start to the pursuit as skipper Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph recorded a brisk 102-run partnership.
Joseph, who was the core aggressor of the opening stand, fell briefly after amassing her half-century when she was deceived by a Sciver-Brunt’s slower delivery in the 13th over.
She remained the top-scorer for West Indies with a 38-ball 52, which included six fours and two sixes.
Matthews followed suit in the next over when she miscued a pull shot off Sarah Glenn. She smashed seven fours and a six on her way to a 38-ball 50.
The back-to-back dismissals glimmered a ray of hope for England bowlers, who did well to halt the flow of runs for West Indies.
But Deandra Dottin turned the tide in West Indies’ favour when she smashed Charlie Dean for 16 runs in a match-defining 16th over.
England got another thin chance when they struck twice in the span of three deliveries including the prized scalp of Deandra Dottin, 27 off 19 balls, with West Indies needing six off 14 deliveries.
But Aaliyah Alleyne, unfazed by the pressure mounted by the England bowlers, steered West Indies over the line with an unbeaten six off four deliveries.
For England, Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone and Glenn made one scalp each.
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Put into bat first, England registered a formidable total on the board, courtesy of an unbeaten half-century by Nat Sciver-Brunt.
The 2009 champions had a shaky start to their innings as they lost three wickets inside seven overs with just 34 runs on the board.
Following the slump, skipper Heather Knight joined Sciver-Brunt in the middle and anchored the innings with a crucial 46-run partnership, which culminated with the former getting retired hurt after scoring a 13-ball 21.
Knight’s injury jolted England as they began to lose wickets at an alarming rate.
But, Sciver-Brunt stood her ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly. She carried her bat all the way through with an unbeaten 57 off 50 deliveries with the help of five boundaries.
Afy Fletcher was the standout bowler for England, picking up three wickets, followed by Hayley Matthews with two, while Deandra Dottin made one scalp.
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