DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Qiana Joseph showcased her batting prowess by scoring 52 runs off 38 balls, leading the West Indies to a thrilling victory over England in the Women’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday.
Joseph’s impressive performance, complemented by captain Hayley Matthews’ contribution of 50 runs from 38 balls, propelled the West Indies to a six-wicket win in their final group stage match. The team chased down England’s score, concluding their innings at 142-4 in just 18 overs, with 12 balls remaining.
This victory ensured that the West Indies would progress to the knockout rounds alongside South Africa, who had secured their spot after England’s innings concluded. For England, this defeat meant an early exit from the tournament, marking the first time since 2010 that the team failed to advance to the semifinals. Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand had already qualified from Group A and will face South Africa and the West Indies, respectively, in the semifinals.
The West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl in a high-stakes match for both sides. England entered the game with a strong history, having not lost to the West Indies in their last 14 encounters and riding a three-match winning streak in Group B.
However, England’s batting lineup struggled initially. Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, in good form, was dismissed for 16 runs, and Maia Bouchier followed shortly after with just 14 runs. Alice Capsey’s unfortunate run-out for only one run left England in a precarious position at 34-3 within the first six overs.
Nat Sciver-Brunt played a vital role in rebuilding the innings, scoring an unbeaten 57 off 50 balls and forming a 46-run partnership with captain Heather Knight, who managed 21 runs off 13 balls before leaving the field due to a calf injury. This setback inhibited England’s momentum, leading to a recovery effort from West Indies’ leg-spinner Afy Fletcher.
Fletcher shone with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 21 runs across four overs, successfully restricting the English scoring in the middle overs. England’s innings faltered as they went from 94-3 to 135-7 within a mere 30 balls, although they managed to add 31 runs in the final three overs to finish with 141-7.
In their chase, the West Indies began aggressively, with Joseph taking charge and hitting the leg side for significant runs after a two-game absence from the lineup. She struck six fours and two sixes, overwhelming the English bowling attack. Matthews joined in the assault, registering seven fours and a six, as they combined for an impressive 67 runs without loss in the powerplay.
Overall, the opening partnership yielded 102 runs off just 74 balls before Sciver-Brunt claimed the first wicket in the 13th over. Sarah Glenn quickly followed with the dismissal of Matthews, and Shemaine Campbell’s run-out brought a glimmer of hope for England. Nonetheless, Deandra Dottin kept the momentum going with an energetic 27 runs off 19 balls, helping the West Indies secure a comfortable victory in the end.