West Indies stunned reigning champions New Zealand by seven wickets in a last-over thriller at Southampton, chasing down 163 with one ball to spare thanks to a career-defining knock from Shemaine Campbelle. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter finished unbeaten on 90(62), producing the highest score of her 155-match T20I career on a night when the White Ferns’ title defence got off to the worst possible start.
New Zealand looked in a strong position after posting 162/6. Isabella Gaze gave them a flying start with 39(29), while Brooke Halliday contributed 40(32) and Maddy Green provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 35(22). However, the innings never truly exploded despite the platform, largely due to a superb spell from Aaliyah Alleyne. The seamer ripped through the middle order to finish with career-best figures of 4/27, removing Gaze, Melie Kerr, Brooke Halliday and Georgia Plimmer.
West Indies’ chase suffered an early setback when Qiana Joseph was run out for just two, but captain Hayley Matthews and Campbelle calmly rebuilt. Matthews looked in complete control during her 48(37), striking 6 fours and a six as the pair added 74 runs for the second wicket. When Jess Kerr finally broke through to dismiss Matthews just two runs short of a half-century, New Zealand sensed an opening.
Instead, Campbelle produced the innings of her life. Remarkably, the 32-year-old had never scored a T20I fifty before this match despite playing more than 150 internationals. Yet on the biggest stage, she delivered when her side needed it most. Campbelle mixed composure with calculated aggression, reaching her maiden T20I half-century off 39 balls before accelerating brilliantly in the closing overs. Even the dismissal of Deandra Dottin for 6(8) did little to halt the momentum. Campbelle found support from Jahzara Claxton, who stayed unbeaten on 6(8), as the pair guided West Indies home in a tense finish.
New Zealand’s fielding performance was uncharacteristically poor, with multiple dropped catches, missed chances and sloppy ground fielding allowing West Indies crucial extra runs. Jess Kerr was the standout bowler for the White Ferns, returning excellent figures of 2/17 from four overs, Rosemary Mair also kept things tight with 0/26. But Melie Kerr’s 4-0-41-0 and a series of missed chances in the field meant the pressure never truly mounted on the West Indies batters.
Yet New Zealand nearly found a way back at the death, with Sophie Devine conceding just two runs from the first four deliveries of the final over as West Indies chased four for victory. But with scores level and one run needed from the last two balls, a leg-bye finally ended New Zealand’s resistance and sparked celebrations in the West Indies camp.
For a team missing Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry, this was a statement of depth and belief. Matthews inspired, Alleyne delivered with the ball, and Campbelle produced a career-defining 90*(62) to seal a memorable win. Ten years on from their historic 2016 triumph, West Indies have begun this World Cup with a reminder that they still know how to rise when the stakes are highest.
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