DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews admitted her team struggled to adapt to the conditions in Dubai, contributing to their 10-wicket loss to South Africa in their opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Friday.
Speaking after the match, Matthews expressed disappointment over her team’s performance, both with the bat and ball, in the hot and humid conditions at the ICC Academy. West Indies managed only 118 for six from their 20 overs, a target South Africa easily chased down without losing a wicket, reaching 119 in just 17.5 overs.
“Obviously a pretty disappointing game,” Matthews said in a post-match interview. “Firstly, not scoring enough runs on the board and we would have liked to have taken a few wickets and at least put up a bit more of a fight in the second innings. But with a game in two days’ time, we’re going to have to get things back together quickly and pick up the pieces.”
The West Indies innings never got going, hampered by a strong South African bowling attack and tricky playing conditions. West Indies lost key early wickets, with Matthews herself falling cheaply for 10 to the experienced Marizanne Kapp in the powerplay. The out-of-sorts Qiana Joseph also struggled before being bowled for 4 by Nonkululeko Mlaba, as the team slumped to 31 for two after six overs.
Matthews acknowledged the challenge
Matthews acknowledged the challenge posed by the Dubai heat but suggested her team had not adapted quickly enough to the conditions. “It’s pretty hot here in Dubai. I’d probably have to say it’s the hottest place I’ve ever played cricket or even been to, and that’s saying something coming from the West Indies. We’ve been here for about two weeks, thankfully, and we’ve been able to acclimatise, but we probably didn’t adapt to the conditions as well as we could have today.”
South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt (59 not out) and Tazmin Brits (57 not out), made light work of the modest target. The pair put on a commanding display with both batters scoring half-centuries as they coasted to victory with 13 balls to spare. West Indies’ bowling, which included eight different bowlers, failed to find any breakthroughs, compounded by an unfortunate incident where Zaida James was struck in the face off her own bowling and forced to leave the field after delivering just one ball.
Despite the setback, Stafanie Taylor provided a glimpse of stability during the West Indies innings. Returning to the side, Taylor played a crucial hand with a measured knock, navigating the innings with 35 runs, while partnering with Shemaine Campbelle (17) to add 30 for the fourth wicket. However, Mlaba’s four-wicket haul (4/29) proved decisive, as she dismissed both Campbelle and Chinelle Henry in quick succession, stifling any potential momentum for the Caribbean side.
Matthews praised Taylor’s resilience, particularly as she struggled with physical discomfort during her innings. “Stafanie took charge of the game well throughout the middle, but it was clear she was battling some cramping issues, which made running between the wickets challenging.” Taylor eventually hobbled off the field after an innings-saving contribution.
Cautious optimism
When asked about the condition of both Taylor and James after the match, Matthews shared cautious optimism. “I haven’t seen either of them since the match ended, but Zaida’s injury seemed like a blow to the jaw. She’s a tough girl, so we’re hopeful she’ll recover in time for our next game.”
The West Indies will now turn their attention to crucial upcoming group stage matches against Scotland, Bangladesh, and England. Matthews remained focused on regrouping and preparing for their next encounter, knowing the importance of bouncing back from the heavy defeat.
“With a game in two days, we have no choice but to move on and come back stronger,” Matthews added. “We’ll need to address the issues we had today with both bat and ball if we want to be competitive going forward.”
For South Africa, the dominant performance will boost their confidence as they aim to go one step further than their last T20 World Cup campaign, with Wolvaardt and Brits emerging as formidable threats for any future opposition. Their clinical display in Dubai has firmly established them as strong contenders in the tournament.
