New Zealand Overcomes Deandra Dottin’s Heroics to Reach T20 World Cup Final After 14 Years
New Zealand defeated the West Indies by an exciting eight runs in the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
In a low-scoring match, New Zealand’s spinners retained their composure to defend 128 despite Deandra Dottin’s all-around mastery, which featured four wickets and a quick 33 off 22 balls.
Key Performances and Match Results
New Zealand 128 for 9 (Plimmer 33, Dottin 4-22, Fletcher 2-23) beat West Indies 120 for 8 (Dottin 33, Carson 3-29, Kerr 2-14) by 8 runs.
Match Analysis
After a 14-year break, New Zealand defeated the 2016 champion West Indies by eight runs in a low-scoring thriller played in Sharjah to advance to the Women’s T20 World Cup final. When the event is poised for a first-time champion, New Zealand will face South Africa, the runners-up from the 2023 edition.
Sophie Devine’s team chose to bat first, and despite the pitch not favouring the ball hitting the bat, they puffed and puffered their way to 128 for 9. West Indies’ top player, Deandra Dottin, took 4 for 22. The West Indies’ pursuit, however, did not materialize as planned as Eden Carson and company held them to 25 for 2 during the powerplay.
Despite their best efforts, Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor could only muster a combined total of 28 from 41 balls. West Indies were already down 51 for 4, needing 78 from 55. Once more, Dottin kept the West Indies competitive. Her displays of skill, including a 22-ball 33 in which she struck three sixes in an over off Lea Tahuhu, reduced the equation from 24 to 34. However, Dottin’s innings was cut short in the 17th over when Amelia Kerr, this World Cup’s highest wicket-taker, top-edged a sweep to short fine leg.
Despite five fielding blunders, New Zealand’s bowlers managed to restrict the West Indies to a mere 120 for eight runs.
Prior to the semi-final in this period, Carson had claimed four of her five wickets as New Zealand’s go-to powerplay bowler. She set the tone with the ball on Friday as well. The offspinner bowled a length ball on middle that spun past the batter’s swipe to knock her stumps after giving up two fours to Qiana Joseph.
As Carson darted one full and wide of off, Shemaine Campbelle stepped out and miscued one towards extra cover, where Suzie Bates grabbed a diving catch, and soon 16 for no loss became 20 for 2. West Indies were slowed down by the wickets, as Matthews and Taylor were going at a glacial rate.
When Taylor and Matthews hit back-to-back fours in the ninth over, Carson returned for the final over. However, the offspinner had the last laugh, bowled Taylor for a 20-ball 13 after she mistimed a slog sweep. She finished with a 3 for 29 record and won Player of the Match.
The manner Matthews and the other players began using the ball showed that they were delighted to bowl first. With equal emphasis on pace and spin bowling, the West Indies restricted New Zealand to just 32 runs in the opening six overs.
To prevent Bates and Georgia Plimmer from getting going, fast bowler Chinelle Henry bowled three of her four overs inside the powerplay, hitting the firm lengths and extracting movement in the air and off the surface. Two of New Zealand’s three fours during this period were free throws: Henry’s high-pitched delivery and Zaida James’s complete toss. Plimmer had trouble at first finding her time. Bates made a few unsuccessful attempts to find fast runs by moving across and down the track.
The fact that Dottin was only bowling in this T20 World Cup for the second time was irrelevant. It was not an easy pitch to bat on, but she used her ten years of experience. She typically bowled full and straight, combining deftly with slower deliveries to cause trouble for New Zealand. Kerr was struck out for seven by Dottin’s second ball. However, the innings was saved by the fast starts of Devine and Brooke Halliday, who combined to score 27 off the following 14 balls.
However, Dottin’s second over—the 15th of the innings—turned the tide in favor of the West Indies once more. A throw from deep midwicket caught Halliday on her left foot, causing a brief pause in play. The next ball, Dottin blasted in a yorker. Halliday failed to ram her bat down on it, causing her to be pegged back off the stump. Made eighteen out of nine balls.
Afy Fletcher removed Devine for a run-a-ball twelve in the next over, and with New Zealand at 98 for 5, Maddy Green and Isabella Gaze were called upon to contribute. However, Dottin deprived them of that chance. She used DRS to help her capture Rosemary Mair lbw after first sending Green back. New Zealand appeared to have lost the plot at 104 for 7. However, they were able to squeeze out 24 runs from the final three overs, which ultimately proved to be the difference.
