After a disappointing start to their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, the West Indies women’s team bounced back strongly with a comprehensive six-wicket victory over Scotland at the Dubai International Stadium on October 6, 2024. The team, led by their experienced leg-spinner Afy Fletcher, put in an all-round performance to secure their first win of the tournament, after having lost to South Africa by 10 wickets in their opener.
Fletcher was the star of the show, claiming three wickets for 22 runs in her four overs, derailing Scotland’s innings and restricting them to 99 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Her performance, backed by excellent bowling from Chinelle Henry, who took 1 for 10 in four overs, ensured that Scotland was kept on the back foot throughout the match.
West Indies’ Dominant Bowling Display
West Indies came into this match looking to regain momentum after their heavy defeat to South Africa, and they did so in style. Henry’s tight opening spell stifled Scotland’s top order, leaving them struggling at 27 for 2 after seven overs. The introduction of Fletcher further weakened Scotland’s resistance, with the 37-year-old leg-spinner taking key wickets, including those of key batters, to ensure that the opposition never really recovered.
While West Indies’ fielding could have been sharper – they missed a few catches that could have seen Scotland dismissed for even fewer runs – their bowlers were relentless in applying pressure. The Scots, who had already lost their opening match to Bangladesh, found it difficult to get going in the face of West Indies’ attack.
Olivia Bell and Priyanaz Chatterji provided moments of resistance, with Bell taking a sharp caught-and-bowled to dismiss Shemaine Campbelle, while Chatterji’s diving catch at short fine leg to dismiss Qiana Joseph was a highlight. However, these efforts were not enough to prevent the West Indies from dominating with both ball and bat.
Qiana Joseph Leads West Indies’ Chase
In response to Scotland’s modest total, West Indies made quick work of the chase, led by an aggressive knock from Qiana Joseph. Opening the innings, Joseph smashed 31 off just 18 balls, setting the tone for the chase. She found solid support from Chinelle Henry, who contributed 18 off 10 balls, while Deandra Dottin provided the finishing touches with a flurry of boundaries. Dottin hammered Abtaha Maqsood for 6, 4, and 6 in consecutive deliveries to seal the victory with 50 balls to spare.
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Speaking after the match, Fletcher said, “The first game didn’t go to plan. No one wants to lose, but we had to pick ourselves up quickly. We came out with strong plans and executed them well today. We are here for business, not just for a joyride, and this performance showed what we are capable of.”
Scotland’s Learning Experience
For Scotland, the loss marked their second defeat in as many games in the tournament, following their 16-run loss to Bangladesh. Despite their improved fielding display, where they held on to some difficult catches, the team struggled to keep up with the quality of the West Indies’ side. Lorna Jack-Brown, one of Scotland’s key batters, noted that the team was still learning and adapting to the level of competition they were facing.
“We believed we could come in and cause an upset, but it didn’t go our way tonight,” Jack-Brown said. “It’s a great experience for us to be at a World Cup, and while we are disappointed with the result, we’re learning a lot from playing against world-class players.”
Looking Ahead
Both teams will now look ahead to their remaining group-stage matches. West Indies, buoyed by their dominant performance, will aim to carry this momentum into their next fixtures, while Scotland will seek to bounce back, taking the lessons learned from their first two games into their upcoming encounters.
With this victory, the West Indies have kept their T20 World Cup campaign alive and will be hoping to further improve as the tournament progresses, while Scotland remains focused on building their game and competing against the best teams in women’s cricket.
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