At the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup hosted on home soil at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on June 24, England pulled off a commanding victory over previously undefeated West Indies, locking in their own place in the tournament’s knockout stage and leaving their Caribbean rivals fighting for semifinal qualification in their final group match.
West Indies entered the showdown at cricket’s most iconic venue riding a wave of momentum, having opened their campaign with back-to-back wins against Scotland and Sri Lanka. A second victory would have all but secured their spot in the final four, setting up a high-stakes clash that drew widespread attention from global cricket fans.
England got off to a rocky start in their batting innings, losing opening batters Amy Jones and Sophia Dunkley within the first six overs. But against expectations, the hosts delivered their most dominant powerplay of the entire tournament, posting 57 runs despite the early dismissals. A steady, high-scoring partnership between Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Alice Capsey for the third wicket turned the tide firmly in England’s favor, with the pair adding 66 runs to the total. Wyatt-Hodge led all batters with an impressive 65 runs, while captain Heather Knight chipped in with a quickfire 43 to push England to a formidable total of 186 at the end of their 20 overs.
Chasing a target of almost 10 runs per over, West Indies needed a fast start from their top order to keep up, but instead got off to a sluggish start that put them on the back foot from the first over. The match turned even more sour for the Caribbean side when captain Hayley Matthews was given out caught behind following a controversial review. Though the on-field umpires originally ruled the delivery not out, the third umpire upheld the appeal based on Snickometer data indicating a faint edge, despite clear visual evidence of a gap between Matthews’ bat and the ball. A clearly frustrated Matthews left the pitch early, leaving her side without their key leader in the run chase.
Even with the setback, West Indies attempted to rally, and found a bright spot in all-rounder Chinelle Henry, who scored a fighting half-century off just 30 deliveries and picked up one wicket for 25 runs with the ball. But the batting line-up ultimately could not make up the ground required, with the Maroon Warriors finishing their innings 38 runs short of the target.
After the match, Matthews attributed the loss to her side’s inconsistent line and length with the ball, noting that missed opportunities in key periods of the England innings let the hosts build a match-winning total. Speaking on her controversial dismissal, the West Indies captain acknowledged the finality of umpiring decisions in international cricket, saying “Not everything goes your way when you get those occasions. I certainly felt that I definitely did not hit it. At the end of the day, the umpire’s decision was final. Clear gap between bat and ball. But got to respect the umpire’s decision.”
Despite the upset defeat, West Indies remain in a strong position to advance to the knockout stage. They will face winless, bottom-placed Ireland in their final group match, needing just one more win to lock in their place in the tournament’s semifinals.