The West Indies Women’s team are one of the only 3 winners of the Women’s T20 World Cup since its inception in 2009. But throughout the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, they have had a roller coaster of a journey. After starting strong in the initial editions of the competition, the West Indies Women’s team hit their peak in 2016 and since then their performances have massively dwindled.
In the 2010, 2012, and 2014 editions of the premier prize in Women’s T20 cricket, the West Indies contingent consistently reached the Semi-Finals of the tournament. Then in 2016, when the tournament was hosted by India, following the victory of their Men’s side, the Women’s side shocked the world by defeating Australia in the Finals of the 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup. That year was their best performance in the tournament, and ever since then, they have never even reached the Semi-final stages of the competition barring the 2018 edition, when they themselves were hosting the competition.
With group stage exits in 2020 and the 2023 editions of the T20 World Cup, West Indies came into the 2024 edition taking place in the UAE with less to no expectations riding on their shoulders. But with the group stages being done with, West Indies find themselves in a spot that nobody expected them to reach.
Apart from an initial stumble against the Proteas Women’s side in their opening match where they lost by 10 wickets unable to break the South African opening partnership; the West Indies have been on a roll in the tournament. They went on to win their next two matches by HUGE margins, managing to finish off matches against Scotland and Bangladesh before the 13th over itself while chasing, the West Indies set themselves up for a 1st place finish in Group B.
But standing in their way were the dominant English side who had not lost a single match in the World Cup. But against all odds, the West Indies women got the better of their English counterparts chasing down the target of 142 with relative ease in the 18th over, booking themselves a Semi-Final berth.
Now they’ll be facing a spirited New Zealand Women’s side who beat India along their way to the Semi-Finals. Even against the White Ferns, the side from the Caribbean will be looked at as underdogs. But again, that’s where they have always been, and West Indies will have to once again topple the favourites to make their way into the Finals, where they’ll face either Australia/South Africa. This is the best chance they’ve had at lifting the coveted title since 2016 and they dare won’t let it go by so easily.
The West Indies have the most potent spin duo in the likes of Karishma Ramharack and Afy Fletcher. The former has recorded the best bowling figures of the tournament yet when she took 4 wickets for just 17 runs against Bangladesh and Afy Fletcher who has 8 wickets in the 4 group stage matches. Their spin attack coupled with their explosive batters in the form of Hayley Matthews, Qiana Joseph and the experienced Stafanie Taylor make them a frightening opposition.
But the big question remains. 8 years after clinching their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup, can the West Indies Women’s team do it again in the UAE in 2024? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.
