ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: West Indies , New Zealand avoid upsets

 


The latest two matches of ICC womens T20I World cup turned out to be very interesting between West Indies v Scotland & New Zealand v Ireland 


West Indies Women vs Scotland Women (Headingley Cricket Ground)


The West Indies registered a hard-fought 7-run victory over a resilient Scotland team in a thrilling encounter at Headingley. Batting first after Scotland won the toss, the West Indies posted a competitive 153/6 in their 20 overs. The star of the innings was former captain Stafanie Taylor, who smashed a blistering 47 runs off just 19 balls, striking at an extraordinary rate of 247.37, laced with 4 fours and 3 sixes. She was ably supported by Shemaine Campbelle, who ground out a solid 36 off 26 deliveries. For Scotland, Katherine Fraser was the pick of the bowlers, pulling things back with figures of 2/34 in her 4 overs.

In response, Scotland fell agonizingly short, finishing their 20 overs on 146 all out. Opener Darcey Carter played a magnificent anchor role, hitting a superb 59 off 62 balls, anchoring one end while Ailsa Lister provided quick acceleration with 33 off 25 balls. However, the West Indies bowling attack proved too disciplined under pressure. Skipper Hayley Matthews turned the game around with an exceptional spell, picking up 3/19 in her 4 overs, while Aaliyah Alleyne ripped through the lower order with clinical figures of 3/11 in just 2 overs. Stafanie Taylor was rightly awarded the Player of the Match for her game-changing cameo.


New Zealand Women vs Ireland Women (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)


Defending champions New Zealand survived a major scare to pick up their first win of the tournament, defeating Ireland by a narrow margin of 4 runs. Choosing to bowl first, Ireland's attack struck early to leave New Zealand reeling at 10/3 inside the first four overs. However, captain Amelia Kerr steadied the ship with a mature 30 off 24 balls. Middle-order resistance from Izzy Sharp (36 off 28) and Brooke Halliday (34 off 37), followed by a late explosive push from veteran Suzie Bates (19* off 12), lifted the White Ferns to a defendable 140/6. Ireland's Cara Murray and Orla Prendergast both bowled beautifully, claiming identical figures of 2/26 from their respective 4 overs.

Ireland's run chase was headlined by a phenomenal 110-run partnership for the second wicket, threatening a major World Cup upset. All-rounder Orla Prendergast top-scored with a sensational 59 off 53 balls (5 fours, 1 six), while skipper Gaby Lewis complemented her perfectly with a steady 58 off 53 balls. With 15 needed off the final over, New Zealand's experience prevailed. Player of the Match Amelia Kerr proved to be the difference-maker, turning the game back in New Zealand's favor by taking 2/23 in her 4 overs, removing both Prendergast and Rebecca Stokell in quick succession during the death overs to restrict Ireland to 136/4.



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