West Indies pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Saturday, avenging their 2024 semi-final loss to defending champions New Zealand in Southampton.Veteran Shemin Kembele’s brilliant unbeaten 90 and Alia Elaine’s stunning four-wicket haul helped the 2016 champions to a memorable win with just one ball to spare in the tournament opener.Chasing 163 without injured stars Cheniel Henry and Stephanie Taylor, West Indies stunned the holders by reaching 163/3 on Campbell’s career-best innings.
Alia’s four derails New Zealand.
Asked to bat first, New Zealand made a promising start, before Allen turned the match on its head.The medium pacer removed Georgia Plummer for eight runs to break the opening stand of 49 runs and then struck twice in an over, dismissed. Amelia Kerr Five more for wicketkeeper Isabella Guise who scored a fluent 39 off 29 balls with eight fours.Reduced to 56/3 in 7.4 overs, New Zealand rebuilt through Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday. Devine scored 22 off 15 balls before Halliday hit 40 off 32 balls.Maddy Green’s unbeaten 35 off 22 balls helped the defending champions to 162/6, but Alleyne’s impressive figures of 4/27 proved decisive.
Campbell wrote a brilliant comeback.
West Indies suffered an early blow when Kiana Joseph was run out for two but the skipper Haley Matthews Brilliant counter attack.The skipper survived several reliefs and scored 48 off 37 balls, taking back control in a 74-run partnership with Campbell. After Mathews’ departure, Campbell continued his masterclass, putting on an unbeaten partnership of 40 runs with Deandra Dutton and 37 runs with Jahzara Claxton.The Guyanese batsman brought up his first T20I half-century in his 123rd innings and never looked back, completing an unbeaten 90 off 62 balls with seven fours and three sixes.“I just backed my skills,” Campbell said after the match. “I know if I’m a player of that caliber I can go and change things.”New Zealand endured a forgettable outing in the field, dropping six catches and struggling behind the stumps. Jess Kerr was the only bright spot with figures of 2/17.
