Wicket-keeper Batter Shemaine Campbelle makes the White Ferns pay for their lapses with career-best heroics as West Indies notch a memorable win to kick-start their campaign.
The 2016 champions, the West Indies, under the leadership of skipper Hayley Matthews, were up against the defending champions, New Zealand, under the leadership of skipper Amelia Kerr, at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, in the 4th match of the ongoing 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the first triple-header on 13th June 2026.
Earlier in the day, Scotland registered their maiden T20 World Cup victory, defeating Ireland by 40 runs. Sophie Molineux’s Australia were clinical, registering a massive 65-run win against South Africa in the 2nd game of the day.
The West Indies were missing one of their senior-most duos, Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry, as they were recovering from their respective injuries. The White Ferns skipper Amelia Kerr made the bold call of resting their senior-most duo of Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu for the opening clash in the 10th edition of the tournament.
The West Indian skipper Hayley Matthews won the toss and opted to bowl first at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. The New Zealand openers wicket-keeper batter, Izabella Gaze (39 off 29 balls), in particular, provided the White Ferns a positive start with a 49-run opening stand alongside Georgia Plimmer. Aaliyah Alleyne broke the stand, by sending Georgia Plimmer back to the pavilion on the penultimate ball of the power play.
She also went on to dismiss the White Ferns skipper, Amelia Kerr, and Isabella Gaze to reduce New Zealand to 56/3 in the 8th over of the innings. Brooke Halliday joined Sophie Devine at the crease, and the duo led the recovery with a crucial 45-run stand for the 4th wicket, which also took them past the 100-run mark. Skipper Hayley Matthews got the big scalp of Sophie Devine (22 off 15 balls) in the 13th over of the innings to provide the 4th breakthrough for her side.
Maddy Green (35* off 22 balls) and Brooke Halliday (40 off took the momentum forward with a 39-run stand for the 5th wicket, which took them closer to the 150-run mark. Aaliyah Alleyne picked up her 4th scalp by dismissing Brooke Halliday in the 18th over of the innings, eventually returning with her career-best T20I figures (4-0-27-4) in her spell with the ball for her side. New Zealand posted a competitive total of 162/6 in their quota of 20 overs.
Skipper Hayley Matthews (4-0-31-1), Deandra Dottin (2-022-1) and Afy Fletcher (4-0-26-0) were impressive with the ball for the West Indies.
Chasing a challenging total, West Indies got off to a disappointing start, courtesy of a horrible mix-up between skipper Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph, ending Joseph’s stay at the crease in the 2nd over of the innings, providing the 1st breakthrough for New Zealand.
Wicket-keeper batter Shemaine Campbelle joined skipper Hayley Matthews at the crease with an intent to rebuild in the run chase. The White Ferns fielders carried buttery hands on the field, dropping Hayley Matthews thrice apart from the other lapses and missed opportunities. The pair made the Amelia Kerr-led side pay heavily, as they roared back into the contest with a massive 74-run stand for the 2nd wicket, taking them closer to the 100-run mark.
The West Indian skipper Hayley Matthews (48 off 37 balls) finally ran out of luck, with Jess Kerr providing the vital breakthrough for the White Ferns in the 12th over, a crucial stage in the run chase. Shemaine Campbelle switched gears as Deandra Dottin joined her at the crease, registering her maiden T20I half-century en route to a quick-fire 40-run stand for the 3rd wicket, taking them into a comfortable position in the run chase. Jess Kerr kept the White Ferns in the contest by dismissing Deandra Dottin in the 16th over of the run chase.
Shemaine Campbelle displayed all her experience and took matters into her own hands, staying calm and composed as she guided the West Indies over the line with 7 wickets in hand and a ball to spare. The Wicket-keeper batter stayed unbeaten on 90* (62 balls). Jess Kerr (4-0-17-2) was the stand-out performer with the ball for New Zealand, while Rosemary Mair (4-0-26-0) was unlucky not to have a couple of wickets in her spell.
Shemaine Campbelle was awarded the Player of the Match for her career-best 90* (62 balls), a knock that included 7 boundaries and 3 maximums, making it a night to remember for her and the whole West Indian unit.
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