New Delhi: The ICC T20 World Cup will be having a new champion for the first time in so many years. Usually, it is the Australian Women’s team which has been traditionally showed its dominance in the T20 format. The Australian team has won the title for a record 6 times!
On the other hand, the West Indies Women’s team was anticipated to be the other team which could have won this year’s T20 Championship. However, both the heavyweights have been knocked out of the tournament.
While the West Indies Women’s team was knocked out of the tournament by the New Zealand women’s team, the Australians suffered a horror defeat at the hands of the South African Women’s team after the debacle that unfolded last year.
Has the time finally come for the White Ferns?
Meanwhile, New Zealand, who lost in the finals at the first two tournaments in 2009 and 2010 have finally a reason to smile. After coming agonisingly close in 2009 and 2010, the White Ferns have finally a shining ray of hope with their apparent kryptonite, the Australian team knocked out of the tournament.
For the New Zealanders, openers Suzie Bates (26) and Georgia Plimmer (33) made a solid start and added 48 for the first wicket. But the innings faltered as Dottin stepped in to remove Amelia Kerr, Brooke Halliday, who made a rapid 18, and Maddy Green and Rosemary Mair.
Things looked precarious for White Ferns as they were sinking in the sea. However, wicket-keeper batter Isabella Gaze ensured some late slogging (20 off 14) which gave the Kiwi bowlers a target to defend.
West Indies struggled at the top of their innings against some accurate bowling and the game looked up when captain Hayley Matthews was dismissed for 15. However, with the arrival of Dottin, it felt the Windies would have a change of fortune like first innings. The all-rounder hammered three sixes and went on to score 33 from 22 balls to bring West Indies back into the game.
When she fell, Afy Fletcher (17 not out) and Zaida James (14) took up the fight with New Zealand only sealing victory in the last over of the match. However, it proved to be too little too late to save the fortunes of the Windies.
