Led by Shemaine Campbelle’s career-best effort, West Indies beat defending champions New Zealand in their Women’s T20 World Cup opener on Saturday, June 13.
Campbelle’s unbeaten 90 set the tone for their chase of 163, the second-highest ever in the history of the competition, and was also the highest individual score batting second in Women’s T20 WCs.
An emotional Campbelle was overwhelmed with emotion when the penultimate ball gave Windies their winning run, marking arguably her finest hour in a 17-year T20I career. On the other hand, it was a harsh reminder for the White Ferns that cricket matches are, more often than not, decided on fielding efficiency.
The day began with Isabella Gaze spearheading the Powerplay, collecting a spate of boundaries even as Georgia Plinmer was sent back as the first of Aaliyah Alleyne’s four victims. Amelia Kerr, playing her 100th T20I, was also back in the hut by the end of eight overs, leaving New Zealand in a spot of bother at 56/3.
Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday then assumed control, taking 25 runs in a matter of 12 balls to ensure New Zealand weren’t getting stuck. However, three quiet overs followed, rendering a late flourish imperative. That came via Maddy Green’s bat (35 off 22), taking the total past 160.
West Indies needed a firm start in response but it was not possible. Qiana Joseph fell in the second over, run out after a mix-up with Hayley Matthews. That brought in Campbelle, who remained on the crease until the end of the chase, negating the absence of Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry.
Matthews got a reprieve at fine leg as early as the third over, just the slice of fortune Windies needed in a tall pursuit. Those fumbles would only add up for New Zealand.
In the 10th over, Campbelle had her hands on her helmet in anguish, seemingly out to Amelia Kerr. A failed reverse sweep was adjudged lbw, but replays suggested the impact was outside off, reversing a decision that would prove crucial for West Indies.
At the halfway mark, they had ambled to 69/1: wickets in the tank but a mountain to climb ahead. New Zealand’s fielding slip-ups helped their cause, both batters were dropped in the 11th over.
Matthews fell on the brink of her fifty, plucked out by Jess Kerr, whose spell of 2/17 threatened to stifle the chase. Unfazed, Campbelle got to her maiden T20I fifty with a six, twice clearing Amelia, separated by a half-chance that the all-rounder couldn’t hold on to.
New Zealand, despite their fielding blemishes, continued to grind. A stunner sent back Deandra Dottin, adding another twist to the tale. However, another Amelia over turned things around. The 18th over saw 13 runs coming off it, while Mair gave 10 in the next, leaving Windies needing just four in the final one. Campbelle and Jahzara Claxton polished off that tiny requirement without any further drama, sparking celebration in the West Indies camp for their first win over New Zealand in a Women’s T20 World Cup since 2016.
Brief Scores: New Zealand Women 162/6 in 20 overs (Brooke Halliday 40, Isabella Gaze 39; Aaliyah Alleyne 4-27, Deandra Dottin 1-22) lost to West Indies Women 163/3 in 19.5 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 90*, Hayley Matthews 48; Jess Kerr 2-17) by 7 wickets.
