Hayley Matthews Emotional As NZ Stun WI To Reach First Women's T20 World Cup Final
West Indies women emotional after defeat to NZ-W (Source:@ICC,X.COM)
New Zealand Women pulled off a remarkable win to seal their place in the final of the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, as they defeated West Indies by eight runs in a dramatic semi final at Sharjah. Having entered the tournament as underdogs, the White Ferns defied expectations to qualify for their first World Cup final since 2010.
West Indies Women Emotional After Defeat
On the other hand, West Indies were left heartbroken as their hopes of reaching the final for only the second time in history were dashed. Emotional scenes followed the defeat, with star players Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews, and Stafanie Taylor visibly distressed, reflecting the pain of coming agonizingly close to victory.
In a video shared by the ICC, West Indies players were seen in tears, with raw emotions as they miss their spot in the final.
Quick Recap Of NZ-W VS WI-W Semi final
Chasing a modest target of 129 on a sluggish Sharjah pitch, West Indies faltered early. Captain Hayley Matthews struggled to find fluency and managed only 15 from 21 balls.
Stafanie Taylor also faltered with a subdued 13, and opener Qiana Joseph contributed just 12 runs off 12 balls. Despite this, Deandra Dottin injected hope with an aggressive 33 from 22 balls, featuring three towering sixes, giving West Indies a fighting chance. However, her dismissal in the 17th over proved the turning point. Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson were the standout bowlers for New Zealand.
Earlier, New Zealand's innings also struggled for momentum, but Georgia Plimmer’s 33 from 31 balls provided a solid foundation.
Brooke Halliday added a crucial 18 from nine balls, while Izzy Gaze's unbeaten 20 propelled the White Ferns to a competitive total of 128-7. Deandra Dottin was brilliant with the ball for West Indies, taking 4-22 to keep the Kiwis in check.
New Zealand's victory means they will face South Africa in the final, guaranteeing a first-time Women's T20 World Cup winner. South Africa were beaten finalists last year, but with New Zealand breaking their 14-year final drought, both teams will be vying for their maiden title in Dubai on Sunday.