England out of Women’s T20 World Cup as West Indies advance

The West Indies have knocked England out of the Women’s T20 World Cup, stunning the world No.2 team in the final match of Group B in Dubai on Wednesday morning (AEDT).

Needing a win to book their spot in the semi-finals, England chose to bat first and made a solid start through openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

The 2009 champions experienced a brief wobble when Wyatt-Hodge (16), Alice Capsey (1) and Bouchier (14) were all dismissed in the space of five runs.

However, captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt stablised the innings, taking the Brits through to 3/80 before Knight retired hurt.

Again, the innings stalled a little, with Afy Fletcher picking up two of her three wickets in back-to-back overs, but an unbeaten 57 from Sciver-Brunt took the favourites through to a par score of 7/141.

In response, the West Indies were nothing short of impressive.

Openers Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph both made half-centuries at well over a run-a-ball, taking their side to 102 runs before the first wicket fell.

Even Matthews and Joseph falling within five balls of each other could not halt the West Indian advance, with Deandra Dottin making a rapid 27 from 19 as the target of 142 was overhauled with two overs to spare.

“I don’t think many people had us as semi-finalists,” said Matthews, the West Indies captain.

“Up against the odds tonight but to put up a performance like that with the bat, Joseph scoring her first T20I fifty — what a time to do that.

“We have been chasing before in this tournament and we back ourselves to knock off whatever runs are put on the board.

“Feel we are peaking at the right time, and hopefully we can see something even better in the semi-final.”

English captain Knight was understandably frustrated in her post-match comments.

“I don’t think we were far off,” she said.

“In a tournament like this, you slip up once and it can be costly.

“We will be judged on today.

“Very frustrated but very proud of the girls and they fight they have shown.”

With England and India both failing to reach the semi-finals, top cricket betting sites have shuffled their Women’s T20 World Cup outright odds.

Australia are now $1.30 title favourites at BetOnline, with New Zealand their closest challengers at $8.50.

The Wests Indies are paying $9 to lift the trophy for the second time, and South Africa are at long odds of $13.

The Aussies are listed at $1.12 to beat the Proteas on Friday morning, while New Zealand are slight favourites at $1.72 for their clash with the West Indies the following day.

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