The West Indies women’s cricket team faced a heart-wrenching elimination from the upcoming Women’s World Cup, finishing just 0.01 behind Bangladesh in net run-rate. On the last day of qualifying, the West Indies picked up a hugely important win over Thailand. In reply, they blasted an incredible 168 runs for the loss of four wickets in just 10.5 overs. As they executed beyond expectation, it still proved insufficient. That narrow margin prevented them from making the NCAA tournament.
West Indies opener Hayley Matthews announced her intent early with some extraordinary hitting, including 70 runs in 29 balls. Her performance carried her squad to an upset six-wicket victory, the shock of the tournament. The West Indies bowled Thailand out for only 166 runs. Having done so well with the bat they were well placed to pursue the target quickly. The 11-man team began the day in third place. They knew they needed to chase their target down within 10 overs to better Bangladesh’s net run-rate of 0.64.
West Indies really ran the show with their combo of outstanding hitting. They scored a phenomenal 156 runs for three wickets in the powerplay. This was the new record for most runs in a powerplay in women’s One Day Internationals (ODIs), underscoring their rapid beginning. For all their endeavor, the chase went longer than it needed to, leaving them with a net run-rate of 0.63.
That’s what makes this failure to qualify that much more incredibly significant. It would be a historic disappointment, as it would be the first time in 25 years that the West Indies miss out on a Women’s World Cup. Their exit from the tournament reflects a growing concern about the team’s performance on the international stage and raises questions about future development within women’s cricket in the region.
The last qualifying standings found Bangladesh lucky enough to sit at the table for a World Cup seat. They did it by just a bit of net run-rate, sending the West Indies home in highly dramatic fashion. The first and second ranked teams at the end of the qualifying round moved on to the invitational tournament. Despite Matthews’s LeBron-like efforts, her squad came up excruciatingly short.
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