NZ v WI Women’s World T20 Review: West Indies through to final

The West Indies women’s team made it to their first-ever Women’s World T20 final courtesy of an impressive 6-run win over New Zealand. In spite of playing on a decent batting surface at the Wankhede Stadium, the Black Caps failed to make the most of the conditions on what seemed to be an extremely sapping and humid day in Mumbai. The win means that the Windies will now face up to the might of Meg Lanning’s Australia in the final. Incidentally, the Aussies have reached their fourth consecutive ICC event final.

New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates won the toss and put the Windies into bat first. The move would eventually prove to be a costly decision, especially with the track providing assistance for seam bowling with the ball coming on to the bat nicely.

West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor and her opening partner Hayley Matthews got the ball rolling for the Windies. The slow yet steady start to the innings ensured that a strong foundation was laid for the West Indies to build upon. However, despite their start, Matthews was trapped in the second over by the left-arm medium pace of Morna Nielsen. Britney Cooper walked out amid the celebration of Black Caps.

Stafanie Taylor and Cooper began the much-needed rebuilding process amid a barrage of deceiving and alternating spin and seam bowling from the Kiwis. Although it seemed as though Taylor was biding her time in the middle, Britney Cooper began her onslaught on the New Zealand bowlers. She stitched an amazingly compiled 60-run partnership in quick time as the West Indies reached a point where it was no looking back.

Despite the fall of Stafani Taylor to Sophie Devine, Cooper continued on her merry way. She slammed 61 off just 48 deliveries including 5 boundaries and two sixes. What was even more impressive to watch was that she went about her batting with a smile, almost like a smiling executioner.

Deandra Dottin wicketkeeper batswoman Merissa Aguilleira chipped in with useful knocks towards the end of the innings with 20 and 15 respectively as the West Indies innings closed on 143/6 in 20 overs. Sophie Devine was quite clearly the pick of the New Zealand bowlers as she concluded her four overs with figures of 4/22.

Skipper Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest kick-started the innings for the Black Caps. They were soon to go into an early crisis when the off-color Rachel Priest was cleaned up by Shamilia Connell in the second over. Things became a horrible concern when skipper Suzy Bates threw her wicket away as she attempted to break the shackles as a leading edge of her blade was caught by Quintyne.

Sophie Devine, who looked solid for her 22 perished soon after the powerplay as the Kiwis found themselves requiring slightly less than 100 runs with barely 14 overs to play. Therefore, the responsibility of rebuilding fell on the shoulders of Sara McGlashan and Amy Satterthwaite. Initially, the duo put the odd ball away and began running hard between the wickets thus rotating the strike and keeping the target in the touching distance.

It took a rather divine intervention from West Indies skipper Taylor as she dismissed Satterthwaite in the 16th over for 24. The match was eventually conceded after she was dismissed the very next delivery to the irresistible Taylor as she attempted to clear the mid-wicket fence.

Katey Martin attempted to up the ante towards the end of the innings only for her efforts to come little too late. Stafanie Taylor took three wickets as the Kiwi innings closed at 137/8 in their quota of 20 overs, thus conceding the match by 6-runs. Britney Cooper was adjudged the man of the match courtesy of her impressive 61 off 48 balls.

Brief Scores

West Indies 143/8 in 20 overs (Cooper 61; Devine 4/22)

New Zealand 137/8 in 20 overs (McGlashan 38; Taylor 3/26)

Player of the match: Britney Cooper