Semi-final: Australia 127-2 beat West Indies 125-7 by 8 wickets
Australia advanced comfortably to the T20 World Cup final with an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies, securing the win with seven overs remaining.
Chasing a target of 126, Australia’s Beth Mooney and Ash Gardner compiled a decisive 63-run partnership off 37 balls. Mooney recorded her second half-century of the tournament, while Gardner contributed an aggressive 35 runs from 20 deliveries. Despite the early afternoon scheduling on a Tuesday in London, the match attracted a crowd exceeding 10,000 spectators.
The six-time champions will meet the winner of Thursday’s semi-final between England and South Africa in Sunday’s final. Following this dominant performance, Australia are strong favourites to claim their seventh title.
One concern for Australia is the fitness of Ellyse Perry, the team’s leading run-scorer in the tournament, who retired hurt in the seventh over of the chase due to a quad injury. Perry was able to leave the field unaided, and Australia indicated she would have returned to bat if required, suggesting the injury is unlikely to be serious.
West Indies’ innings marred by illness and collapse
The West Indies innings featured two notable partnerships: a 47-run opening stand between Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph, and a late surge of 42 runs off 27 balls between Deandra Dottin and Jannillea Glasgow. However, a middle-order collapse of four wickets for 12 runs in 17 balls undermined their ability to set a competitive total.
There had been uncertainty regarding Dottin’s participation after she collapsed midway through the Australian national anthem due to an unspecified illness and had to be assisted off the pitch by teammates. Although listed to bat at number five, she only emerged from the dressing room halfway through the innings as the collapse unfolded, making a cautious descent to the dugout.
She eventually came to bat at number eight in the 16th over, hitting four boundaries with Glasgow providing support at the other end. However, by that stage, it was too late for Dottin, known as the “World Boss,” to significantly influence the innings.
Bowling and batting performances
West Indies opened the bowling with vice-captain Chinelle Henry, who has been managing a pre-tournament injury. Henry did not train at the Oval on Monday but made an early breakthrough by dismissing Georgia Voll with an off-cutter that bowled her.
Despite an initial burst of boundaries from Voll and Mooney, Australia quickly removed any scoreboard pressure. Matthews successfully reviewed a not-out leg-before decision to survive an appeal against Phoebe Litchfield, but Mooney and Gardner guided Australia to an easy victory.
Matthews had expressed confidence before the match, stating her team could play “fearless” cricket despite being underdogs. However, their 35-run powerplay and an innings containing 55 dot balls suggested otherwise.
Matthews said, "We can play fearless cricket in a match we were never expected to win."
Matthews played an impressive shot off the first ball, driving Lucy Hamilton through the covers, but the pressure of carrying the innings appeared to weigh on her. Runs became scarce, and in the ninth over, she attempted a sweep shot against Georgia Wareham but was bowled after missing the ball.
At the other end, Joseph scored six runs from her first 16 balls. When Voll dropped her catch in the deep, it proved fortunate for Australia. Joseph showed potential with a six over long-on but was soon caught by Gardner at deep midwicket attempting another big shot.
Gardner then claimed two catches off leading edges to dismiss Stafanie Taylor and Jahzara Claxton in the 11th over, triggering the collapse of the West Indies innings.
Illness impacts West Indies squad
The day began dramatically with Dottin’s collapse during the Australian national anthem. The West Indies team has faced illness issues since arriving in England: Taylor missed their group-stage match against England, and Matthews has been battling a persistent cough. Dottin’s condition was particularly ill-timed given her role as one of the team’s most powerful batters.
