Watch: Hayley Matthews sheds tears after semifinal loss to New Zealand. (Photo Source: ICC/Instagram)
West Indies took on New Zealand in the semifinal 2 of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on October 18. After restricting New Zealand to just 128 runs, the West Indies batting collapsed and they could not reach the target. Other than Deandra Dottin, no other batter crossed the 20-run mark.
The 2016 T20 World Cup champions managed 120 runs in 20 overs and bowed out of the tournament. On the other hand, New Zealand will make its third final appearance, having reached there twice in 2009 and 2010. West Indies captain, Hayley Matthews, was visibly in tears as her team succumbed with the win a stone’s throw away.
Also Read: Tahlia McGrath dejected after semifinal loss to South Africa Women
“It is disappointing for the entire group. I’m incredibly proud of everyone on the team. We saw players who haven’t been on the circuit very much show up at this World Cup and I think as a group we’ve come together and exceeded expectations. We were able to prove a lot of people wrong,” Matthews said after the game.
Here’s the video of Matthews disappointed after the loss:
Felt like it never really got out of our hands: Matthews
Speaking of Deandra, the all-rounder was in the touch of her lifetime. She picked four wickets, conceding just 22 runs. She was equally impactful while batting, scoring 33 runs off just 22 deliveries and smashed three maximums. Matthews highlighted the 33-year-old’s efforts created chances for the team.
Also Read: Mithali Raj lashes out at Indian team
“Felt like it never really got out of our hands. Few boundaries and the game was able to change and that showed when Deandra smacked a few over midwicket. Unfortunately, she got out after that. Kudos to her — she had a great game firstly with the ball, and then making sure we had a chance with the bat too,” Matthews added.