🏏ICC Women's T20I WC 2024: 2nd Semi Final - NZW vs WIW🏏

🏏ICC Women's T20I WC 2024: 2nd Semi Final - NZW vs WIW at Sharjah on 18/10/2024 @7:30PM IST🏏

October 18 at T20 World Cup: West Indies take on New Zealand in a battle of underdogs

Neither team was a pre-tournament favourite but now they have a chance to make it to the final

Both sides entered the competition with few backing them to advance beyond the first round. Against the odds, they've quieted early skepticism by toppling the heavyweights in their groups, and now face a crucial showdown to earn a spot in the final. For New Zealand, this is their first semifinal since making the last four in 2016 while West Indies are in a semifinal for the first time since 2018.

New Zealand have never entered a final since finishing runners-up in the first two editions in 2009 and 2010. West Indies have never made the final barring the title victory in 2016. There is some history between these two teams as well, with West Indies' 2016 championship run including a semifinal victory against New Zealand. The White Ferns will be keen to reverse the result of that encounter and set things up for a memorable farewell for their senior players. Meanwhile, West Indies have a few seniors too who the team will hope to bid farewell to on a winning note, starting with this semifinal clash.

New Zealand brought out their 'A' game in their tournament opener against India, replete with tactics, match-ups, and fool-proof plans made more than a year ago. In a group of death, beating one of the top teams - India or Australia - was of utmost importance and New Zealand started on the right note. Despite reversal against Australia, they regrouped quickly to defeat Sri Lanka and won a must-win game against Pakistan to enter the last-four stage.

New Zealand have been well-served by collective contributions. Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates at the top have been providing good starts while the likes of Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday have provided the finishing touches in their batting. New Zealand have been on the mark with the ball, again with good contributions from all their bowlers. They will be determined to maintain this momentum and propel themselves further in the tournament.

West Indies, on the other hand, did not start the tournament well, losing by 10 wickets to South Africa in their first match. Pretty much written off at that stage, West Indies bounced back with a hat-trick of victories. First Scotland and then Bangladesh, the Caribbean team breezed past them before their vital clash against England, who they hadn't defeated in T20Is for 13 straight games since 2019. But West Indies came with the belief, "a lot of hearts and a lot of fights" to set foot in the next round.

For West Indies, they've had different people putting their hands up for the team's cause. Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle and Deandra Dottin have contributed well while skipper Hayley Matthews, after failing in the first two matches, has regained form and come up with an important half-century against England. But it was Qiana Joseph's exhilarating fifty against England that came as a bolt out of the blue as the 23-year old proved she could handle the pressure at the top despite limited experience and being moved around the batting order. Afy Fletcher has led West Indies' bowling effort, with the others supporting her well. Like New Zealand, West Indies also have a well-balanced side which will be looking to go the distance.

What to expect: Australia are the only team to post more than 145 twice at this venue while India got to 142 in a losing cause against the former. Barring these, teams have struggled to go past 125, with the slow and low conditions aiding the bowlers. What should encourage the teams, though, is that the 150-plus posted by Australia came in the previous game here, and they will be hoping the pitch has something for the batters.

Tournament guide: New Zealand started the tournament with a big win against India. Following a loss against Australia, they went on to win the next two matches, against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, to seal a semi-final spot in a Women's T20 World Cup for the first time since 2016. West Indies started their campaign with a loss but won their next three games. They knocked out one of the tournament favourites England in their last group-stage match to qualify for the semi-final.

News brief: Stafanie Taylor missed the England game with a knee injury. In her absence, Qiana Joseph opened the innings and smashed 52 off 38 balls to give West Indies a memorable win. New Zealand, meanwhile, brought in left-arm spinner Fran Jonas for offspinner Leigh Kasperek for their match against Pakistan. Jonas picked up 1 for 8 in her two overs in a winning cause.

West Indies have won just five out of the 23 T20Is they have played against New Zealand. Two of those five wins came in the T20 World Cup, in 2012 and 2016. The 2016 game was also a semi-final, where West Indies defended 143 before going on to beat Australia to lift the trophy.

Player to watch: Few in women's cricket can hit the ball as hard as Deandra Dottin, and she has shown that at this World Cup too. She has the highest strike rate (167.30) and most sixes (6) so far in this tournament. Against England, she smashed offspinner Charlie Dean for two sixes and a four in an over. Her quick knocks meant West Indies did not have to worry about their net run rate throughout the group stage.

Georgia Plimmer has contributed crucial runs at the top of the order for New Zealand. The 20-year-old scored a 53 off 44 against Sri Lanka to set up the chase. In New Zealand's opening match, it was her 34 off 23 balls that took India by surprise. With 108 runs from four innings, at a strike rate of 122.72, she is currently New Zealand's top run-getter in the tournament. Given the average first-innings total in Sharjah in this tournament has been only 119, another quick start from her could be decisive.

Team news:

West Indies: Stafanie Taylor, struggling with a knee problem, missed the previous game and the status of her fitness is still unclear. West Indies could stick to the same team that got them into the semifinal.

Probable XI: Hayley Matthews (c), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Zaida James, Ashmini Munisar, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack

New Zealand: It might be a toss up between offspinner Leigh Kasperek and left-arm spinner Fran Jonas. The latter might get the nod considering limited left-handed batting options for West Indies.

Probable XI: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas

Did you know?

- New Zealand have a 17-5 win-loss record against West Indies in 22 completed T20Is, and they are on a 4-match winning streak as well. But the ratio is an even 2-2 in T20 World Cups

- Deandra Dottin has an average record in the knockouts of T20 World Cup, with 91 runs in 6 innings and a highest of 40

- Sophie Devine has scored 122 runs in six innings in T20 World Cup knockouts, with a highest of 38*, and has picked 8 wickets

What they said:

"Steph [Stafanie Taylor] and Deandra [Dottin] are two giants of the game and it is cool to be able to see them have success, and you know, to empathise with them and to know what it means to them as well. It's sort of been a bit similar for me and some of the old girls in the Kiwi team" - Sophie Devine, New Zealand captain

Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The pitch at Sharjah is batting-friendly and known to favour the spinners. With an average score around 125 in T20Is, the batters will have to be sensible. Batting first often yields better results at the venue.

Head-To-Head Records

Matches Played 23
Won by New Zealand Women 17
Won by West Indies Women 05
No Result01
First-ever FixtureJune 13, 2009
Most-recent FixtureOctober 06, 2022

Probable Top Performers from NZ-W vs WI-W

Probable Best Batter: Georgia Plimmer

White Ferns opener Georgia Plimmer has been her side's best batter so far. In the four games, Plimmer has 108 runs at an average of 27.00 and a strike rate of 122.72. The 20-year-old will be hoping to get runs of the bat in the crucial game against West Indies.

Probable Best Bowler: Amelia Kerr

New Zealand spinner Amelia Kerr has bagged 10 wickets in four games so far and has also been economical. Kerr is also the highest-wicket taker of the competition and will be hoping to better her stats in the coming game. Kerr's performance will be crucial for New Zealand to earn a spot in the finals.