Who: New Zealand vs West Indies
What: Second semifinal, ICC Girls’s T20 World Cup 2024
When: Friday, October 18, 6pm (14:00 GMT)
The place: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
How one can observe: Al Jazeera’s stay textual content protection begins at 10:30 GMT
West Indies and New Zealand meet in a semifinal befitting of a match that has defied the percentages.
Australia, the report six-time winners and present holders, have been eradicated on Thursday by a South Africa facet given little hope of exacting revenge on the group that defeated them on dwelling soil within the ultimate 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 in opposition to India of their opening recreation. A end result the Indians, arguably, by no means recovered from. West Indies, meantime, have one of many stars of the match of their captain Hayley Matthews, however they, like their Kiwi opponents, have been thought to be lengthy pictures 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 glad that we’ve made it right here, however … the job’s simply not completed. We’re … hopefully able to play a extremely 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 ultimate got here in 2016 however that did lead to a win. That too went in opposition to the grain, as they beat an Australian facet trying to find a fourth consecutive title.
“We’re all the time at our greatest once 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 revel 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 discovered within the again yards of our houses and in addition on the streets within the Caribbean – so, simply take pleasure in it.”
Since New Zealand’s wretched run got here to an finish with their opening win in opposition to India, solely Australia have taken the wind out of the Kiwis’ sails. It was, nevertheless, 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 gaggle of dying, 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 ensure that we play with that degree of feelings,” mentioned Devine, who might change into the primary Kiwi captain to raise a Girls’s World Cup. “It’s one other recreation and we’re making an attempt 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 report
New Zealand take pleasure in a 17-5 benefit over the West Indies of their 23 T20 encounters, together with two Tremendous Over wins.
One match led to a “no end result” because of a washout.
New Zealand’s greatest end result at T20 World Cup
Runners-up: 2009, 2010
West Indies’s greatest end result at T20 World Cup
Champions: 2016
Kind information: New Zealand
The White Ferns opened their World Cup marketing campaign with a win over pre-tournament favourites India, and closed their group section by knocking them out with a win over Pakistan. Their solely loss within the match got here in opposition to Australia.
Final 5 matches: W W L W L
Kind information: West Indies
The West Indies will look to proceed their three-match successful streak within the match and go all the best way 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 led to a win for the group batting first.
One match noticed the toss-winning captain selecting to bowl first and win the match.
Climate forecast
Sharjah might be sizzling, 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 actual temperature really feel a bit larger.
Group 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.
Group information: West Indies
The West Indies will hope their star batter Stefanie Taylor, who missed the sport in opposition to England, is match for the massive 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.
