Photo Credit: Cricket West Indies
West Indies bowed out of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Monday, following India’s victory over Ireland. Head Coach Courtney Walsh said he was proud of his team’s showing despite not making it to the business end of the tournament. Led by the heroics of captain Hayley Matthews, West Indies had two thrilling wins over Ireland and Pakistan on Friday and Sunday. However, India’s win on Monday meant they stayed in second spot in Group 2, with West Indies finishing third. England won the group.
“We knew it would have been a tough group with the two top teams ahead of us, England and India and we would have had to beat one of them to have a realistic chance of getting through. But I am very happy with the last two wins that we had, two from four is not bad but we were really hoping for three from four which would have given us a chance,” Walsh told CWI Media.
The West Indies fast bowling legend was full of praise of Matthews who performed exceptionally well in the back-to-back wins – where she also won the Player of the Match awards. Against Ireland she played the innings of the tournament – 66 not out to engineer a win with one ball to spare. Against the Pakistanis she was again on song with 20 at the top of the order followed by two crucial wickets in a sensational last-ball victory. Walsh added that it was also good to see several other player stepping up at various times.
Three Rising Stars Under-19s players were selected into the World Cup squad, Djenaba Joseph, Trishan Holder and Zaida James. Holder and James were part of the playing eleven in the two matches that the West Indies won.
Walsh said:
“They’re in good stead, the experience and exposure they would have had from a tournament like this would be second to none. We saw how good they fielded in the last game in saving runs, the youth and exuberance paid off. The three of them that were here have potential for West Indies long term and that’s one the things I said that we need to pull out some players from now and I’m happy we were able to do so with them from this tournament. We hope when they go back home, the territorial boards will do everything they can to maintain and help them grow because that is also very important.”
Asked where the team goes from here, Walsh replied:
“There is a rebuilding phase but potential wise, this team has the potential, it’s just the execution and consistency we’re lacking in, once we get the consistency and execute well, I see a lot of good things happening for the team.”
Next on the international calendar for the West Indies Women, they are expected to host Ireland Women in three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals in June and July. The full match schedule will be confirmed at a later date.
