West Indies Women vs New Zealand Women – Live Score, Highlights & Playing XI from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

The sun was barely dipping over the horizon when West Indies Women took to the field against New Zealand Women for the fourth Group B match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. A gentle breeze fluttered the flags, and the stadium buzzed with anticipation – you could almost hear the collective heartbeat of fans waiting for the first ball.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that felt bold given the windy conditions. Their opening bowlers, especially the crafty left‑arm pacer Sian Brown, skidded the ball low, keeping the West Indian batters on their toes. The West Indies line‑up, captained by the ever‑energetic Hayley Cannon, opened with Shakera Selman and Hayley Brown. Selman, usually a reliable anchor, struggled early, edging a delivery to the slip cordon for a quick duck.

Just when the pressure seemed to mount, a gritty 27‑run partnership blossomed between Brown and Madi Floyd. Floyd, with her trademark flicks, carved a couple of boundaries through the covers, while Brown’s quick singles kept the scoreboard ticking. The partnership broke at 42‑2 when Brown was caught at deep mid‑wicket, leaving the West Indies at a modest 54‑3 after the 6‑over mark.

New Zealand’s death overs proved decisive. Veteran all‑rounder Amelia Hughes slammed a brisk 19 off just 10 balls, driving the total past the 100‑run barrier. The innings wrapped up at 112‑6 after 20 overs – a score that, on paper, seemed tame but carried the weight of a tightly contested T20 chase.

When the West Indies came out to bat, the atmosphere shifted. Their opening pair, Dayana Ribeiro and Marcia Lewis, started cautiously, rotating the strike and respecting the early swing. The turning point arrived in the 8th over when New Zealand’s spinner Maya Patel—who’d been economical all innings—caught a loopy drive at mid‑wicket, handing the wicket to the fielding side.

Ribeiro, unfazed, accelerated the run rate with a quick 31 off 18 balls, employing powerful drives and clever scoops. However, a crucial wicket fell at 78‑4 when Lewis was clean bowled by the cunning swing of Bowler Jess Miller, prompting a brief lull.

At 88‑5, the required run rate began to climb sharply. Enter the young dynamo, Tiana Harper, who turned the tide with a blistering 24 off 12 balls, including three fours and a soaring six that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Yet, the pressure was relentless; a couple of close catches in the outfield prevented the West Indies from building a big partnership.

In the final over, the equation was 13 runs needed from 6 balls. Harper and the lower‑order batter, Alicia Mason, managed 7 runs, leaving the match perched on a knife‑edge. A dramatic run‑out on the penultimate ball—Mason trying for a quick single—sealed New Zealand’s victory by a slim 6‑run margin.

Post‑match, New Zealand captain Sophie Murray praised her side’s disciplined bowling and fielding, while West Indies skipper Hayley Cannon highlighted the need for deeper batting depth. The win nudged New Zealand up the Group B table, keeping their World Cup hopes alive, whereas West Indies now faces a must‑win scenario in their next outing.

Fans can still relive every ball through the live commentary and full scorecard, available on the official ICC website, while analysts continue to debate the impact of spin versus pace in women’s T20 cricket. One thing is clear: the tournament is delivering drama by the dozen, and every match is shaping up to be a story worth telling.