ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Semi-Final: New Zealand favourites but West Indies serious contenders in closely-fought contest

The second semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 presents a fascinating  contest between New Zealand Women and West Indies Women, two teams that have  shown flashes of brilliance but taken contrasting paths to reach this stage. 

New Zealand, with a rich history of experienced campaigners like Sophie Devine, Suzie  Bates, and Amelia Kerr, have had a tournament showcasing both resilience and class.  Despite struggles in the build-up, including a challenging series against England earlier in  the year where they appeared out of form, they’ve managed to regroup impressively. The  turning point for the White Ferns was their remarkable win against India, which cemented  their place in the knockout stage. Senior players like Devine and Bates found form when it  mattered most, while the all-round talents of Amelia Kerr have provided stability with both  bat and ball. 

The emergence of Eden Carson has been a key factor for New Zealand in this tournament,  with her impactful performances often starting with the new ball and maintaining pressure  during the middle overs. Her contributions have been a real game-changer for the team.  Additionally, the performances of Rosemary Mair and Lea Tahuhu, especially in their  crucial win against India, further highlight the strength of New Zealand’s bowling attack,  which will be a critical asset in this semi-final. 

However, West Indies come into this match riding high on confidence after their thrilling  victory against England. Hayley Matthews, the undisputed star for the West Indies,  continues to be one of the most dynamic all-rounders in the game, capable of changing  matches with both bat and ball. Her leadership, coupled with game-changing  performances, has been crucial to the West Indies’ resurgence. In their win over England,  Matthews was supported by an excellent display from Qiana Joseph, as well as a strong  collective bowling performance that offered skipper Matthews eight bowling options to  utilize. 

Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack have been exceptional. With the resources they  have in both batting and bowling, they are well-equipped to perform strongly. 

One concern for the West Indies remains the fitness of Stafanie Taylor, one of their key  players. Having missed the match against England due to an injury sustained earlier in the  tournament, her potential return could be a major boost. Alongside the experience of  Deandra Dottin, Taylor’s availability would give the West Indies a more well-rounded lineup  capable of challenging the Kiwis.

New Zealand, from a statistical perspective, seem to hold the upper hand in this matchup.  They have won 15 of the last 23 bilateral encounters between the two sides, which gives  them a strong record heading into this semi-final. Additionally, when we look at their recent  head-to-head games, New Zealand have won three out of the last five, while West Indies  have only managed to win one, with the other match ending in a tie. Based on these  numbers and historical performances, New Zealand would generally be considered  favorites for this contest. 

However, I believe the situation is more nuanced. Given recent form and momentum, I feel  West Indies might actually have a slight edge in this match. Their impressive victory against  a strong England team in their previous game will have significantly boosted their  confidence, and they have several match-winners who can turn the game in their favor. As  a result, despite New Zealand’s favorable record, I am putting my bets on West Indies  could. 

Conditions are likely to play a role, as the pitch may not be conducive to stroke play,  making it tougher for batters to score freely. Both teams have the bowling resources to  exploit these conditions, with West Indies potentially holding an edge with their varied  attack. 

Key players to watch for New Zealand include the experienced duo of Sophie Devine and  Suzie Bates, who have both been instrumental with the bat, while Amelia Kerr’s all-round  abilities and Eden Carson’s pivotal contributions with the ball make them key figures. For  

West Indies, captain Hayley Matthews stands out as their biggest game-changer with both  bat and ball, alongside the talented Qiana Joseph. Deandra Dottin’s all-round prowess  adds depth, and the potential return of Stafanie Taylor, if fit, could provide a major boost to  their lineup. 

While New Zealand may begin as slight favorites due to their past head-to-head record, the  West Indies’ recent surge in form and match-winners like Hayley Matthews make them  serious contenders to cause an upset. Expect a closely fought contest that could go down  to the wire.