ST. GEORGE’S — With the series hanging in the balance, West Indies Women’s opener Qiana Joseph has delivered a candid assessment of her team’s shortcomings: the batters have not delivered.
As the regional side prepares for Wednesday’s decisive third T20 International against Sri Lanka Women in Grenada, the focus has shifted squarely to a batting unit that has faltered at critical moments. Trailing 1-0 in the three-match series after Sunday’s four-wicket defeat, the home side finds itself searching for answers, and runs.
Joseph, who has endured her own struggles at the top of the order, did not shy away from the issue.
“I think that our batters should just step up and come to the table, score some runs and then we will win the game.”
From collapse to containment, but not enough
The warning signs were evident from the outset of the series at the National Cricket Stadium.
In the opening encounter, West Indies Women were dismissed for just 49 in 13.3 overs, their second-lowest total in T20 Internationals, before rain intervened to produce a no-result. Though the washout spared them an official defeat, it did little to disguise the scale of the batting collapse.
The struggles continued in the second fixture. Despite batting the full 20 overs, the Caribbean side could only manage 101, a total that proved insufficient as Sri Lanka chased it down with four wickets in hand. Captain Hayley Matthews top-scored with 28, but no batter converted a start into a defining innings.
The pattern has been unmistakable: promising moments undone by an inability to build substantial partnerships or apply sustained pressure.
Belief amid the frustration
The batting woes extend beyond the T20 series. West Indies Women had already conceded the preceding ODI series 2-1, compounding the urgency to deliver a response in the shortest format.
Yet Joseph remains confident that the solution lies within the dressing room.
“We have a lot of batting ability; each and every one can bat, and I think that once we step up as batters, we can win the game on Wednesday.”
Her message is less about technical adjustments and more about accountability and intent. The talent, she insists, is present. Execution has been the missing ingredient.’
One final opportunity
Wednesday’s contest in Grenada now represents more than just another fixture. It is an opportunity to rescue the T20 series, restore confidence, and reaffirm the batting depth Joseph so firmly believes exists.
For West Indies Women, the equation is simple: runs on the board, pressure applied, and a performance that reflects their potential.
As Joseph made clear, the responsibility rests with the batters, and the time to respond has arrived.
