Lot of people wrote us off coming into this tournament: Hayley Matthews

Not many gave the West Indies a chance coming into the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. The Women in Maroon were hammered by 10 wickets in their opening game against South Africa, and everyone thought their campaign was more or less over.

However, that’s when the West Indies got big wins over Scotland and Bangladesh, which boosted their NRR. They still had to beat England in their last group game, a team that had yet to lose a game in their tournament. Hayley Matthews and Co. put on a show to remember in Dubai and thrashed England by six wickets to qualify for the semis. In the process, the West Indies also knocked England out of the T20WC 2024.

“I think we're just incredibly proud of what we've been able to do so far this tournament. I think a lot of people wrote us off coming into this tournament, and the way we've been able to go about our cricket, especially after the start we had against South Africa, we've just bounced back against Scotland, against Bangladesh, and I think we haven't beat England in about six years,” said Matthews after the win on October 15 (Tuesday). 

“As far as I can remember, the last time we beat them was back in 2018, but everyone still came here with a belief and a fight. And it just shows what we can do as a West Indian team. I think a lot of people coming up against us know that if it is one thing we've got, it's a lot of hearts and a lot of fights. And we just showed that today.”

Matthews heaped heavy praise on Qiana Joseph, who smashed 52 off 38 deliveries and put on an opening stand of 102 in 12.2 overs alongside her captain. Thanks to them, the West Indies managed to chase down 142 with two overs to spare. Joseph started the tournament as an opener, managing four off 14 against South Africa.

The 23-year-old was pushed to No.3 in the next game against Scotland and responded with 31 off 18. The left-hander didn’t get a chance to bat against Bangladesh, but with an injury to Stafanie Taylor, the Women in Maroon got Joseph back at the top, and she responded by scoring her maiden T20I fifty. Matthews herself slammed 50 off 38 balls.

“Qiana been around for quite a while within our system. She was a part of our squad in 2018 when we had the World Cup, and she was very young at the time, I think only 17. But we did have her around the group as more of a bowler, but I think over the last year or two her ball striking abilities just improved massively.

“I think kudos to the coaches. They were the ones that kind of recognised the way she could hit the ball and decided to give her opportunity up the order a bit. She opened in a few games when we played in Pakistan earlier in the year, and we were kind of using her as a pinch hitter at number three in our Sri Lanka series as well. I think that all those things are stuff that you kind of look back on now and notice that this is a long run coming into a World Cup. 

“It doesn't only start when you get here. It's all the little things you do when you try out prior to the World Cup that comes in and works. But yeah, it was great to see her today, man. I was so proud of her and just the way she went about it and taking it to the English attack is something that is very hard for many people. I think that was my first 50 against England as well. So, for her to be able to come out there and do that was just unbelievable.”

Talking about the match-winning partnership, Matthews added: “I think going out we probably didn't imagine getting 60 off a six. But I think for me personally, from the first ball I faced, I kind of noticed it was sliding on, and I kind of took a liking to that. And then Qiana pretty much just has one role when she goes out there to get us off to a really good start. And she has amazing hand-eye coordination. And I think when you do come in her half on a good wicket, she is a really dangerous player.

“I think after the first game, it was probably pretty tough on her. And we did a drop her right down the order. I think we just decided to use her as a floater at that point. If we lost the wicket in the first few overs, let her go to have a go in the powerplay. And we probably then didn't need it against Scotland or Bangladesh, but look, she's a fighter and she wants to do whatever the team needs. And she's always up to do whatever the team needs. 

“So, we could tell her, open the batting, we could tell her bat at five. She'll do what the team needs and just be up for the fight every single time. When we went into the changing room at halftime, I looked at her and I said, what's wrong? You look like you're upset. She said, I'm just ready. She's always up for it, man. And it's great to have characters like that within the dressing room, especially as a Western-based team who are probably always underdogs.”

The West Indies will take on New Zealand in the second semi-final in Sharjah on October 18 (Friday).

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