Who: New Zealand vs West Indies
What: Second semifinal, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
When: Friday, October 18, 6pm (14:00 GMT)
The place: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Find out how to observe: Al Jazeera’s reside textual content protection begins at 10:30 GMT
West Indies and New Zealand meet in a semifinal befitting of a event that has defied the percentages.
Australia, the document six-time winners and present holders, have been eliminated on Thursday by a South Africa facet given little hope of exacting revenge on the crew that defeated them on residence soil within the last of the final version. The Australians had been on a 14-game successful streak at T20 World Cups. The three groups most fancied to cease Australia’s defence, England, India and Asia Cup winners Sri Lanka didn’t even make it out of the group stage.
New Zealand had misplaced 10 T20 internationals in a row earlier than their shock 58-run victory against India of their opening recreation. A outcome the Indians, arguably, by no means recovered from. West Indies, meantime, have one of many stars of the event of their captain Hayley Matthews, however they, like their Kiwi opponents, have been thought to be lengthy photographs to make it out of their group.
“Nobody had us to get to this stage,” Matthews mentioned forward of the semifinal. “So, we’re all fairly completely satisfied that we’ve made it right here, however … the job’s simply not completed. We’re … hopefully able to play a very massive recreation as a result of we don’t need to simply come to this World Cup to say, ‘Hey we’ve made the semifinals and we’re pleased with that’.”
West Indies’ solely earlier look within the last got here in 2016 however that did lead to a win. That too went towards the grain, as they beat an Australian facet looking for a fourth consecutive title.
“We’re at all times at our greatest after we’re having fun with ourselves and being actually vibrant within the subject,” Matthews added. “I’m simply encouraging each one of many children to exit and luxuriate in themselves. Yeah. it’s a World Cup semifinal, and it’s an enormous recreation, however we’re nonetheless taking part in the identical recreation that we realized within the again yards of our properties and in addition on the streets within the Caribbean – so, simply get pleasure from it.”
Since New Zealand’s wretched run got here to an finish with their opening win towards India, solely Australia have taken the wind out of the Kiwis’ sails. It was, nonetheless, a chastening expertise for New Zealand, who have been bowled out for 86 in an 80-run defeat. Certainly, Sophie Devine’s facet have been the favourites to complete backside of a bunch of loss of life, which additionally included Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
“We don’t need to get too excessive or too low, and that’s actually key for us to be sure that we play with that degree of feelings,” mentioned Devine, who may turn into the primary Kiwi captain to elevate a Ladies’s World Cup. “It’s one other recreation and we’re attempting to maintain issues actually comparable by way of the build-up and the preparation we’re doing.”
New Zealand vs West Indies: Head-to-head document
New Zealand get pleasure from a 17-5 benefit over the West Indies of their 23 T20 encounters, together with two Tremendous Over wins.
One match resulted in a “no outcome” resulting from a washout.
New Zealand’s finest outcome at T20 World Cup
Runners-up: 2009, 2010
West Indies’s finest outcome at T20 World Cup
Champions: 2016
Type information: New Zealand
The White Ferns opened their World Cup marketing campaign with a win over pre-tournament favourites India, and closed their group part by knocking them out with a win over Pakistan. Their solely loss within the event got here towards Australia.
Final 5 matches: W W L W L
Type information: West Indies
The West Indies will look to proceed their three-match successful streak within the event and go all the way in which to the ultimate.
Final 5 matches: W W W L L
Toss and pitch situation
Within the eight group-stage matches performed in Sharjah, groups successful the toss have batted first on eight events. 5 of these eight video games have resulted in a win for the crew batting first.
One match noticed the toss-winning captain selecting to bowl first and win the match.
Climate forecast
Sharjah will likely be scorching, humid and considerably unforgiving within the early a part of the match. The temperature is predicted to hover round 36 levels Celsius (96.8F) with 50 % humidity, making the true temperature really feel a bit greater.
Staff information: New Zealand
New Zealand have been spared from main accidents to their standard taking part in XI and are anticipated to subject the identical facet that beat Pakistan of their final recreation.
Squad: Sophie Devine (captain), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Isabella Gaze (wicketkeeper), Maddy Inexperienced, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
Staff information: West Indies
The West Indies will hope their star batter Stefanie Taylor, who missed the sport towards England, is match for the large match and take her place within the XI.
Squad: Hayley Matthews (captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (wicketkeeper), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa Crafton.
