West Indies produced a dramatic late finish to defeat defending champions New Zealand by seven wickets in a thrilling Women’s T20 World Cup Group 2 encounter in Southampton.
Chasing a competitive target of 163, the Caribbean side reached 163-3 with just one ball remaining, thanks to a match-winning unbeaten 90 from veteran batter Shemaine Campbelle. The victory gave West Indies a crucial start to their campaign in a group where every point could prove decisive.
The chase went down to the final over, with New Zealand captain Sophie Devine entrusted with defending six runs. Campbelle kept her composure under pressure and, with one run needed from the final two deliveries, handed the strike to 20-year-old Jahzara Claxton. The pair successfully completed a bye from the penultimate ball, sparking celebrations in the West Indies camp.
The moment was especially significant for Campbelle, whose emotional reaction reflected the importance of the innings. Remarkably, the knock was her first half-century in T20 internationals after 122 appearances for West Indies.
New Zealand were left to regret several missed opportunities in the field. One of the most costly moments came when Hayley Matthews was dropped on nine. The all-rounder capitalised on the reprieve, scoring a valuable 48 and helping lay the foundation for the successful chase.
Earlier, New Zealand posted 162-6 after recovering from a middle-order wobble that saw them slip from 49-0 to 56-3. Izzy Gaze contributed 39 at the top of the order, while Brooke Halliday and Maddy Green added 40 and 35 respectively to guide the White Ferns to a competitive total.
For West Indies, Aaliyah Alleyne starred with the ball, claiming 4-27 to restrict the defending champions.
The victory provides West Indies with valuable momentum and strengthens their hopes of progressing from a highly competitive Group 2.
