The ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, held in the United Arab Emirates, has reached its decisive stages, with the knockout rounds remaining.
West Indies and New Zealand will clash in the second semi-final on October 18 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. New Zealand has won three matches in Group A, suffering their only defeat against Australia, while Hayley Matthews’ West Indies topped Group B to secure their place in the knockouts. Both teams have faced each other 23 times in T20Is, with New Zealand winning 15 matches, while the Windies have claimed five victories.
Their rivalry dates back to the 2009 T20 World Cup in England, where New Zealand emerged victorious in their first encounter. The Windies secured their first win over the White Ferns during the 2012 T20 World Cup.
In March 2014, both sides met in their first-ever bilateral T20I series, with New Zealand dominating the five-match series 4-0. Over the years, the T20 World Cup has seen close battles between these two teams, with four matches played, and both teams securing two wins each. The 2016 edition stands as a highlight, as West Indies beat New Zealand in the semi-final, defending a total of 143 to win by six runs. They went on to claim their first-ever World Cup title by defeating Australia.
Sophie Devine’s New Zealand entered this tournament on the back of 10 consecutive losses but brought their best to the World Cup, overcoming India in their opener. After a loss to Australia, they bounced back with wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan. On the other hand, the West Indies showed their grit in the group stages, including a massive victory over England that secured their knockout spot.
As the semi-final looms, it remains to be seen who will advance to the final – will it be the two-time runners-up New Zealand or the 2016 World Champions West Indies?
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