Sharjah, Oct 18 (UNI) A shot at glory is the prize for one of New Zealand and West Indies as the pair meet with a place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 final at stake.
South Africa await in Sunday’s T20 World Cup final for the winners of a second semi-final between two sides that few expected to reach this stage.
In a World Cup full of shocks, few have been bigger than Thursday night’s stunning win for South Africa over six-time champions Australia.
And that win for the Proteas will add another element to Friday’s second semi-final between two teams who will fancy their chances of giving South Africa a good game.
Few would have backed these teams to reach the semi-finals, with both competing in groups where there were a pair of higher ranked sides up against them.
But New Zealand’s brilliant win over India and the West Indies’ stunning triumph against England mean that they are both fully deserving of their place in the final four, and they will be keen to take the attack to each other in Friday’s semi in Sharjah.
Top-order power has been a key part of New Zealand’s path to the semis, with openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer setting the tone, the talented Melie Kerr being a key wicket and Sophie Devine adding some experience to round up the top four.
And if that quartet click once again then they will be confident of putting a West Indies attack that is reliant on spin under some pressure in Sharjah.
West Indies possess a similar set of strengths, with their top order massively important. Captain Hayley Matthews is one of the players of the tournament so far, and the dangerous Deandra Dottin is a major weapon at four if she can come in with a platform already set.
The brilliant match-winning half-century from Qiana Joseph at the top of the order against England will be hugely encouraging for a West Indies side who are looking for contributions from the lesser-known names, especially with Stafanie Taylor struggling to be fit in time to take her place at three.
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews said, “I think all teams have a much better chance just because of the format, and realistically in World Cups it is whichever teams show up on a day.”
“I think if you look at a series between us and England, based on prior results, we’d probably go down quite heavily, but in a World Cup we can get ourselves pumped up to be able to come out and win a game and that’s all you need sometimes,” she said
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said, “I don’t expect people to not be nervous. I think if they weren’t, I’d probably be a little bit worried. It’s cool for this group just to be able to feel all those emotions.”
“But it’s about keeping them in check and making sure that we don’t ride them too high and too low, because at the end of the day, we’re here to do a job. We’re here to win a game of cricket and we are really looking forward to what’s going to be an exciting game,” Devine added.
New Zealand squad: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
West Indies Squad: Hayley Matthews (c), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vc, wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa Crafton.
