West Indies Stun New Zealand in T20 World Cup Opener Behind Campbelle's 90*

West Indies Stun New Zealand in T20 World Cup Opener Behind Campbelle's 90*

In a thrilling opener of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup held in Southampton, the West Indies triumphed over the defending champions, New Zealand, by seven wickets. New Zealand posted a solid total of 162-6 in their allotted 20 overs, with standout performances from Brooke Halliday, who scored 40 runs off 32 balls, and Izzy Gaze, contributing 39 runs. However, the West Indies' Aaliyah Alleyne shone with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 27 runs. Chasing a target of 163 runs, the West Indies showcased their resilience, reaching their goal with just one ball to spare. Shemaine Campbelle led the charge, finishing unbeaten on 90 runs off 62 balls, marking her first T20 fifty in 122 matches. In a nail-biting final over, with just six runs needed, Campbelle smartly rotated the strike, allowing Jahzara Claxton to help secure the victory with a bye on the penultimate delivery. The match saw New Zealand left lamenting several dropped catches, including a crucial miss of star all-rounder Hayley Matthews when she was on just nine runs; Matthews later scored 48 runs, bolstering the West Indies' chase. With this victory, the West Indies have positioned themselves favorably in a competitive group, where England is favored to finish at the top, but the race for second place remains wide open.

Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-13