London, 25 June (H.S.): Hosts England booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup with a commanding 38-run victory over West Indies on Wednesday, delivering an impressive all-round performance with both bat and ball. England became the first team in the tournament to qualify for the last four.
Both sides entered the contest unbeaten, but England underlined their title credentials with a comprehensive victory.
Batting first, England posted a formidable total of 186 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. Opening batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge led the charge with a superb 65, while captain Heather Knight contributed a valuable 43.
Although Chinelle Henry provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Amy Jones, Wyatt-Hodge and Knight steadied the innings and built a strong platform. For West Indies, Ashmini Munisar was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets.
Chasing a target of 187, West Indies made a sluggish start, managing only 12 runs in the first three overs of the powerplay. Captain Hayley Matthews played a few attractive strokes but fell for 14 after being adjudged out in a decision that sparked controversy.
Deandra Dottin attempted to accelerate the scoring rate but was unable to convert her start into a substantial innings. The middle order struggled under pressure, and wickets fell at regular intervals.
In the closing stages, Chinelle Henry fought hard with an unbeaten 51, but her effort was not enough to take West Indies over the line. The Caribbean side finished on 148 for 5 in their 20 overs.
For England, Charlie Dean claimed two wickets, while the rest of the bowling unit maintained tight control to keep West Indies well short of the target.
With the victory, England continued their impressive run in the tournament and secured a place in the semi-finals. West Indies, meanwhile, will need stronger performances in their remaining matches to keep their campaign on track.
Brief Scores:
England 186/7 (20 overs)
Danni Wyatt-Hodge 65, Heather Knight 43
Ashmini Munisar 2/42
West Indies 148/5 (20 overs)
Chinelle Henry 51*
Charlie Dean 2/31
Result: England won by 38 runs.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
