New Zealand edged past the West Indies by eight runs in a gripping contest in Sharjah, earning their place in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
In a match filled with tension, the White Ferns set a target of 129 runs for the West Indies, with Georgia Plimmer emerging as the top scorer, contributing 33 runs. It was New Zealand’s spinners who played a pivotal role in sealing the victory, with Eden Carson claiming 3 wickets for 29 runs and Melie Kerr showcasing her skills with figures of 2 for 14, including the crucial wicket of the dangerous Deandra Dottin, who had put the West Indies in a position to chase down the target.
New Zealand is set to face South Africa in Sunday’s final, ensuring that a new champion will emerge in the Women’s T20 World Cup.
How New Zealand Maintained Their Composure with the Ball
New Zealand made a strong start with the ball, establishing control early in the second innings. Eden Carson was instrumental, having already taken two early wickets. The West Indies struggled with the early departures of Qiana Joseph (12 runs off 12 balls) and Shemaine Campbelle (3 runs off 5 balls). Experienced players Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor then attempted to stabilize their innings, reaching a score of 41 for 2 in the ninth over.
However, Carson struck again, dismissing Taylor for 13 runs off 20 balls, further strengthening New Zealand’s position. The White Ferns’ grip on the match tightened when Lea Tahuhu took the important wicket of Matthews (15 runs off 21 balls), leaving the West Indies at 52 for 4 and in dire need of a resurgence.
Despite the rising required run rate, the presence of Deandra Dottin kept the West Indies hopeful. Dottin displayed her explosive capability, hitting three sixes in a spectacular over that brought 23 runs off Tahuhu’s 16th over, igniting the crowd’s excitement.
Sophie Devine made a strategic decision to reintroduce Melie Kerr for a final over, a gamble that paid off as Dottin skied a catch to Fran Jonas after scoring 33 runs off 22 balls, leaving the field to a standing ovation.
With Chedean Nation coming in as a concussion replacement for Chinelle Henry, Jonas quickly dismissed her for a duck, increasing the pressure on the West Indies.
The match intensified as Zaida James joined Afy Fletcher, setting the stage for a nail-biting final over with 15 runs needed. New Zealand turned to Suzie Bates to bowl the last over, which began precariously as James struck a boundary. However, Bates ultimately had the last laugh, taking out James for 14 runs off 8 balls and extinguishing the West Indies’ final hopes.
The First Innings: New Zealand’s Solid Start
Winning the toss, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine opted to bat first at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, aiming for a place in the World Cup final. Hayley Matthews expressed satisfaction with the toss outcome, as her team preferred to bowl first.
New Zealand’s openers navigated the powerplay effectively, reaching 32 without loss after six overs, taking nine runs off Matthews’ first over. However, Suzie Bates (26 runs off 28 balls) was the first wicket to fall, bowled by Karishma Ramharack, bringing Melie Kerr to the crease. New Zealand seemed set for a strong launch at the halfway mark, sitting at 54 for 1, but lost two wickets in quick succession.
Kerr was caught off Dottin’s bowling for 7 runs off 11 balls, followed by Georgia Plimmer, who was stumped while trying to attack Afy Fletcher after scoring 33 runs off 31 balls.
A concerning moment occurred when Chinelle Henry attempted to catch a ball in the deep and was struck in the face, necessitating medical attention. Meanwhile, Brooke Halliday and Sophie Devine pushed the scoring along before both fell in rapid succession—Halliday bowled by Dottin for 18 runs off 9 balls and Devine caught by Ramharack off Fletcher for 12 runs.
Maddy Green struggled to contribute, dismissed for 3 runs off 4 balls. Wickets continued to tumble toward the end, with Rosemary Mair falling for 2 runs, and both Lea Tahuhu (6) and Eden Carson (0) dismissed in the final over.
A late surge from Isabella Gaze, who finished with 20 not out from 14 balls, helped New Zealand reach a total of 128 for 9, setting up a thrilling second innings in Sharjah.
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Devine | New Zealand Captain:
“It still hasn’t fully sunk in yet; my mind is still trying to recover from the intensity of the match. It’s a tremendous privilege to have the chance to compete in a World Cup final. Our performance in the final overs was crucial and really saved us. I felt we were slightly below par, but Izzi’s late batting helped us secure some extra runs. We believed that a target of 130 would be competitive—not exactly par, but considering the highest chase here has been 127, we felt optimistic. This wicket can be tricky, as we experienced in our innings. But with talented players like Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin on the opposing side, the game is always in play. Dottin is a quality player; you can set a field for her, but she can effortlessly clear it. It’s important for us to stay calm and clear-minded, focusing on whether we executed our plans or made a poor decision with our bowling. We dropped a couple of chances that could have made the game easier for us. Full credit to the West Indies; they’ve been exceptional. Deandra’s return from retirement and Hayley’s leadership have made them formidable opponents. We considered giving Halliday the ball for her ability to take pace off, but having someone like Suzie with her vast experience was invaluable. She’s been emphasizing the importance of strategy in training, so being able to call on her at a crucial moment felt special. What I take the most pride in as a leader is our resilience and character, not just throughout this tournament but over the past 12-18 months. Although we’ve faced challenges and criticism, our belief in our capabilities has remained strong. Now that we’re in the final, I’m genuinely excited. We have nothing to lose, which is a liberating feeling. We’ll celebrate tonight’s victory, but our focus is firmly on winning the championship. The West Indies are an incredible side, led brilliantly by Laura Wolvaardt, who always leads from the front. They have seasoned players like Marizanne Kapp, who consistently performs in crucial moments. And then there’s Anneke Bosch, who played superbly against Australia. While it may sound cliché, we’re concentrating on our game and performing to the best of our abilities, which will take us a long way toward lifting the trophy. Fingers crossed the cricketing gods will favor us.”
Matthews | West Indies Captain:
“We started strong with our bowling, but things slipped away a bit towards the end. However, we can’t place the blame solely on the bowlers. At the beginning of the day, we would have gladly accepted 127. Unfortunately, we struggled to find our rhythm early on, which put us under pressure. Based on the wicket, we felt they had set a target that was a few runs short. We aimed to stay positive, particularly with Qiana Joseph batting higher up the order, but we just couldn’t find our momentum. The game felt like it was never truly in our control. A few well-timed boundaries could have shifted the momentum, especially when Deandra hit a few over midwicket, but sadly, she got out shortly after. Kudos to her for her fantastic performance—she excelled with both ball and bat, giving us a fighting chance. It’s disappointing for our entire team, but I’m incredibly proud of everyone. We had players who haven’t been regulars on the circuit step up during this World Cup, and as a group, we’ve united and surpassed expectations. We’ve proven a lot of doubters wrong.”
Emotional Reaction from Eden Carson After Winning Semi-Final
In an emotional moment following her team’s victory, Player of the Match Eden Carson couldn’t hold back her tears. “As you can see, I’m really emotional but incredibly proud of the girls,” she said. Carson praised the team’s resilience, highlighting how Deandra Dottin’s motivational presence inspired the squad. “When Deandra was pumping us up, the girls just believed, and we stuck it out to get over the line.”
Despite facing a below-par total, Carson emphasized the importance of early wickets against a formidable West Indies side. “We had to defend another low total, and we knew how dangerous the West Indies can be. Their bowlers executed a back-of-a-length strategy effectively, while we opted for fuller deliveries, but that’s alright.”
