Southampton [UK], June 14 (ANI): A sensational unbeaten 90 from Shemaine Campbelle and a four-wicket haul by Aaliyah Alleyne guided the West Indies to a seven-wicket victory over defending champions New Zealand in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign opener at Southampton on Saturday.
Match Summary
Chasing 163, Shemaine Campbelle played a composed innings, scoring an unbeaten 62-ball 90, which included seven fours and three sixes. Earlier, Aaliyah Alleyne's impressive four-wicket haul (4/27) restricted the Kiwis to 162/6 in 20 overs.
New Zealand Innings
After being put in to bat first, New Zealand got off to a solid start with a 49-run opening partnership. However, Aaliyah Alleyne provided the breakthrough for the 2016 champions by dismissing Georgia Plimmer (8). She then struck again in her next over, taking the key wickets of Amelia Kerr (5) and Isabella Gaze (39 off 29 balls, with eight fours). New Zealand soon found themselves at 56/3 in 7.4 overs.
Sophie Devine (22 off 15 balls, with three fours) then built a 45-run partnership with Brooke Halliday to take New Zealand past the 100-run mark. Halliday scored a brisk 40 off 32 balls, with five fours, while Maddy Green remained unbeaten on 35 off 22 balls, with four boundaries and a six, pushing New Zealand to a competitive total of 162/6.
West Indies Chase
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews provided a fine start for her side, forming a crucial 74-run partnership with Shemaine Campbelle for the second wicket after Qiana Joseph (2) was run out early. Matthews played an authoritative innings, scoring 48 off 37 balls, with six fours and a six.
Shemaine Campbelle then took charge, changing the tempo in the last six overs with a display of power-hitting. She brought up her first T20I fifty with a massive six over long on. With the match going down to the wire, Campbelle kept her composure, guiding West Indies to the finish line with a ball to spare.
Jess Kerr was the standout bowler for New Zealand, claiming 2/17 in her four overs.
Revenge for 2024 Semi-Final Defeat
With this win, West Indies avenged their semi-final defeat against New Zealand in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
