On the Weekend the West Indies beat Australia in a nail biting contest by eight wickets, with only three balls remaining. This was the first time the West Indies women have ever won the T20 World Cup. It was a record breaking match, as no woman had ever hit a fifty in a Grand Final match before. Four women hit fifties in this match indicating how entertaining women's cricket continues to be.
The West Indies built their entire innings off an unlikely opening partnership. Both openers managed fifties, and were unlucky not to still be in at the end. Deandra Dottin came in at number three, and saw the West Indies home, hitting 18 off 12 balls to secure a fairytale World Cup finish for the West Indies.
In an important second wicket partnership, Elyse Villani and Meg Lanning both hit fifties to set a total of 147 for the West Indies to chase, and it could have been a lot more if it wasn't for a superb final over from Deandra Dottin. Dottin bowled three dots to start the over, before dismissing Ellyse Perry the next ball. Some impressive fielding from Stacy-Ann King lead to Erin Osborne being run out, and they could only manage a single off the final ball.
The West Indies have had to go through a lot make the final, including some hard-fought group stage matches. Their campaign opener was against Pakistan and they were able to pick up the win in a close encounter. The West Indies posted 103 runs, lead by opener Stafanie Taylor who hit a steady 40, coming off 48 deliveries. Hayley Mathews and Merissa Aguilleira both managed 15 while Pakistan's key spinner took four wickets to restrict the West Indies and keep Pakistan in the contest. Five batsmen for Pakistan managed more than 15, but none of them could continue and get a big score. It came down to the last over, Pakistan requiring 12 of it. Some brilliant bowling from Deandra Dottin restricted Pakistan to seven runs off the last over, and the West Indies were able to kick off their campaign with a bang.
The West Indies came up against Bangladesh in their next match, and they made very light work of them. West Indies hit 148 lead by a solid opening partnership from Stafanie Taylor and Hayley Mathews. Bangladesh were bowled out for 99 in reply, while West Indies had three bowlers take more than two wickets.
However, West Indies didn't get it all there own way in the group stage. They were beaten by an in form English team who were able to clinch the victory by one run in a narrow run chase. Stafanie Taylor hit 35 runs, at a strike rate of just 74.46. England had four separate wicket takers, but the star bowler was Anya Shrubsole who took 1 wicket for 11 runs, with an outstanding economy rate of 2.75. Tammy Beaumont hit 31 runs off 23 balls in a player of the match performance. Afy Fletcher tried her best for the West Indies, but her figures of 3-12 off 4 overs weren't enough to earn West Indies the win, as England scrambled through for a leg bye off the final ball to claim a very important victory for England.
West Indies were keen to bounce back in the next match, and Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor lead right from the front. Both women fell just short of fifties, as the West Indies fought their way through to an innings total of 114. India were 1 wicket down after just one ball, but were able to rebuild an innings and they were right back in the chase. West Indies weren't going to give up, even though India was easily in control. Another fantastic game from Afy Fletcher put the West Indies back in the match, as she took 2-15 off four overs. Needing 10 runs off the last over, India fell apart, losing three wickets as the West Indies managed to hold on to another win and secure their spot in the Semi Finals.
West Indies took on New Zealand in the Semi Finals and it was a high scoring encounter. Batting first, West Indies got off the mark quickly. A solid opening partnership was followed by a phenomenal innings from Britney Cooper, as she blasted seven boundaries on her way to half century, before she was dismissed for 61. West Indies finished with a total of 143, which was always going to be hard to chase down. Sara Mcglashan was a stand out for New Zealand, as she worked her way to a hard fought 38 runs off 30 balls. New Zealand looked on track before a collapse during the sixteenth an seventeenth over put New Zealand in a difficult position. They needed 19 runs off the last over, and despite their best efforts New Zealand were unable to chase t down, and fell short by six runs.
So that is how West Indies made it to the Grand Final. Congratulations to the West Indies girls on a fantastic tournament, and well done to Australia for contesting in a nail-biting grand final.
Please let me know if you would like me to continue writing about women's sport or whether I should write about men's sport. Feedback would be greatly appreciated.
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