West Indies Women’s Cricket Team Qualifies for ICC T20 World Cup Semifinals
Qiana Joseph (left) and West Indies captain Hayley Matthews both scored half centuries to lead their team to victory over England.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews says her teammates showed tremendous heart and grit in defeating England to qualify for Tuesday’s semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Qualification and Victory
Needing a win to secure a place in the final four, West Indies Women produced an exceptional performance on their way to recording a comfortable six-wicket victory over the favorites, eliminating them from the competition. It marked the first time West Indies Women had defeated England since 2018 and snapped a 13-game losing streak.
West Indies will now play New Zealand in the second semifinal on Friday for a spot in Sunday’s final.
Captain’s Praise
Matthews said she was incredibly proud of the Caribbean side’s progress in the tournament since their embarrassing opening-round loss to South Africa, in which they lost by ten wickets. "Yeah, it was just massive jubilation. I think we’re just incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to do so far this tournament," she said.
"I think a lot of people wrote us off coming into this tournament and 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, and I think we haven’t beat England in about six years," Matthews said at the post-match press conference following their victory that propelled them to pole position in Group B.
The Team’s Performance
Matthews, who scored an even half-century and, together with fellow opener Qiana Joseph, who made 52, put on 102 runs to spearhead the Windies’ chase, admitted that everything had clicked during that stand. "I think going out, we didn’t imagine getting 60 off six overs, but from the first ball I faced, I noticed it was sliding on, and I kind of took a liking to that," she said.
"And then Qiana pretty much has just one role when she goes out there, and that’s to get us off to a perfect start. She has amazing hand-eye coordination, and I think she is a dangerous player when you come in her half on a good wicket."
Conclusion
The West Indies Women’s cricket team has shown exceptional form and determination throughout the tournament, overcoming numerous challenges to qualify for the semifinals. With a strong lineup and unwavering spirit, they aim to make a strong run in the tournament and secure their spot in Sunday’s final.
FAQs
- How did the West Indies Women’s team qualify for the T20 World Cup semifinals?
- They defeated England by six wickets in their latest match, eliminating them from the tournament and securing a spot in the semifinals.
- What is the West Indies Women’s team’s record against England?
- They have not beaten England in six years, with their last victory coming in 2018.
- Who are the key players for the West Indies Women’s team?
- Captain Hayley Matthews and opener Qiana Joseph are among the top performers for the team, with Matthews scoring an even half-century and Joseph making 52 in their latest match.
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