West Indies Women have once again found themselves in familiar territory, reaching the knockout stage of an ICC event on the back of resilient cricket and timely individual performances. Standing between them and a place in the final is the tournament favourites, Australia Women, in the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at The Oval, London. While Australia swept the bilateral T20I series between the two sides 3-0 earlier this year, the Caribbean outfit have shown throughout this World Cup that they possess enough match-winners to trouble any opposition on their day.
Their campaign has been built around contributions from experienced campaigners and dependable all-rounders, with captain Hayley Matthews leading from the front despite not producing her absolute best with the bat. West Indies booked their semi-final berth after registering impressive victories over New Zealand, Scotland and Sri Lanka before suffering defeats against England and Ireland in their final two group-stage fixtures. Even so, their journey has highlighted the fighting spirit within the squad, and they will hope their senior players deliver when it matters the most. Matthews remains the heartbeat of the side, entering the semi-final with 268 runs in nine T20Is against Australia at an average of 38.28 while continuing to be one of the team’s leading wicket-taking options.
Hayley Matthews
Hayley Matthews once again carries the biggest hopes of West Indies Women heading into the first semi-final against Australia at The Oval. The West Indies captain has been the driving force behind her team’s journey to the knockout stage, contributing consistently with both bat and ball throughout the tournament. Across her 126 T20Is, Matthews has amassed 3352 runs at an average of 29.14 while maintaining a healthy strike rate of 115.82, underlining her ability to anchor an innings as well as accelerate when required. With the ball, she has been equally influential, picking up 129 wickets in nine matches at an average of 18.94 and an impressive economy rate of 6.16, making her one of the most complete all-rounders in the competition. Although Australia secured a 3-0 sweep over West Indies in their most recent bilateral T20I series, Matthews remained one of the few players who consistently challenged the Australian attack with her aggressive batting and clever off-spin.
Shemaine Campbelle
Experience becomes invaluable in knockout cricket, and few players in the West Indies squad possess more of it than Shemaine Campbelle. The wicketkeeper-batter has quietly been one of the team’s most dependable performers, bringing stability whenever the top order has faltered. Campbelle enters the semi-final with 1685 runs in 127 T20I innings, reflecting her ability to balance caution with timely aggression. Throughout the World Cup, Campbelle has played several important middle-order innings that helped West Indies secure victories during the group stage, showcasing her composure and excellent shot selection under pressure. Beyond her batting contributions, her calm presence behind the stumps and tactical awareness make her an important figure in guiding West Indies’ bowlers during high-pressure moments.
Aaliyah Alleyne
While much of the spotlight naturally falls on Hayley Matthews, Aaliyah Alleyne has emerged as one of West Indies’ most valuable contributors with the ball during the tournament. The pace-bowling all-rounder has consistently delivered breakthroughs at important stages, giving her captain an attacking option both with the new ball and during the closing overs. In her 67 T20Is, Alleyne has claimed 26 wickets at an average of 38.92, maintaining an economy rate of 7.91. She also played an encouraging role during the recent bilateral T20I series against Australia, showing impressive discipline despite the challenging conditions against one of the strongest batting line-ups in world cricket. In West Indies’ previous group-stage encounter, Alleyne continued to bowl with intensity and commitment even as the match slipped away, once again demonstrating her fighting spirit and ability to maintain pressure.
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