WINDIES SURVIVE A SCOTLAND SCARE TO SNEAK A WIN

ICC 10th WOMEN's WORLD CUP - Match 12 – West Indies v Scotland at Leeds on 18 June 2026

Result – West Indies beat Scotland by 7 runs
Points – West Indies 2(4), Scotland 0(2)
Toss – Scotland
Umpires – Claire Polosak, Kerrin Klaste, N Janani (TV)
Player of the Match – Stafanie Taylor

Match Centre Link - You can view the scorecard, watch highlights and engage more at Match Centre of ICC. The match can be accessed here. 

WEST INDIES INNINGS

SEIZED BY SCOT
The 12^h match of the 10th Womens T20 World Cup featured West Indies and Scotland. Both the teams come into the second match having won their first match against New Zealand and Ireland respectively. While Windies looked favourite on history and form, Scotland looked good to upstage tougher opponents. Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry returned for the West Indies bolstering the side on World Boss Deandra Dottin’s 150^th T20I match. Scotland won the toss and invited Windies to bat. Hayley Mathews and Qiana Joseph opened the batting while Kathyrn Bryce opened the bowling. However it wasn’t skipper to skipper as Qiana Joseph took strike first ball. The first ball was an edge to the four and indeed seemed a reflection of the day to come – Scotland giving a hard try but Windies luckily having the edge. Gabriella Fontenla started from the other end and when Qiana punched her over cover, it was more like the Windies power shots. Rachel Slater came in first change in the 3^rd over and nearly bowled a wicket maiden. Her last ball to Hayley was given a wide despite a strong appeal for caught behind. Scotland didn’t review and the wide was the only run as Hayley couldn’t get going. Gabriella had the Windies in bay for the next 5 balls before Hayley stepped down to heave a boundary to release the pressure. The 5^th ball of the 5^th over led to the catch of the tournament by Katherine Fraser. In search of a boundary, Qiana meddles one pitched on the middle. Katherine at deep midwicket timed her jump to perfection and ensured that the fall back was millimeters away from the boundary line. Shemaine Campbelle walked in as the audience were still in awe of the brilliant effort by Katherine. Kathyrn came in to close the power play and did well except bowling one on the pads which Shemaine flicked for the fourth four in power play. At 33/1, WI were kept in siege by SCO.

KEEPING IT IN CHECK
Katherine followed Kathyrn and was reverse swept first ball by Shemaine. Three balls later, she ended Hayley’s miserable stay by disturbing her stumps with a quicker one. WI had an experience of more than 300 T20Is with Deandra Dottin and Shemaine Campbell on the crease. Kirstie completed another quick and economic over. Chloe Abel came to bowl the 10^th over and Shemaine was unable to pick two full tosses for boundary. Though she eventually deposited third one straight over the bowler, WI didn’t look convincing at 59/2 after 10 overs. Kirstie and Katherine bowled the next 2 overs and kept things tight for Windies. Shemaine was lucky to get 4 runs when both she & Sarah missed Katherine at 11.5 and doubly lucky because what looked 4 byes were given 4 runs. Kathyrn took charge of the 13^th over and claimed the prize wicket of World Boss Deandra as she edged one straight to the keeper. In her landmark 150^th T20I, Deandra’s wicket was claimed by the Bryce sisters – c S Bryce b K Bryce. Young Darcey Carter was the 7^th bowler used by SCO in the 14^th over and the off break bowler got her side a big break in the leg side in her first ball. Shemaine hoisted her first ball to midwicket and was right in calling for a second. However Katherine Fraser who cannot do a thing wrong today came in from nowhere and hit the stumps directly catching Shemaine short. WI were 80/4 in 13.1 and there were still no signs of Stafanie as Chinelle Henry and Jahzara Claxton took strike. Chinelle smacked Darcey over cover for  boundary but also had four dots in the over. Kirstie ended Chinelle’s stay claiming her leg before in the 3^rd ball. Stafanie finally came in at number 7 and I was embracing to prepare for the worst. Stafanie started with a boundary with a good looking drive and Jahzara drove another boundary in the same over. Katherine kept the flow in check with another 7 runs over sans extra or boundary. Windies were 102/5 after 16 overs and needed to do something special in death overs as their possibility of scoring more than 140 looked bleak.

WINDING BACK THE CLOCK
Kathryn gave only 5 singles in the 17^th over before Jahzara pulled one over the cow corner for the first sixer of the match. Katherine followed Kathyrn and Stafanie welcomed her with lofting one over the off side and the other on the on side, both for boundaries. However Katherine claimed Jahzara in her 4^th ball when her attempt for a sixer turned an easy catch for Kathyrn at the deep mid wicket. Jahzara was caught Kathyrn of Katherine.(I had both my peculiar wishes c Brcye b Bryce and c Kathyrn b Katherine granted). Janiellea Glasgow walked in and I loved the irony of Glasgow facing Scotland. Windies had two 11 run overs in succession that somewhat signaled some success. Kirstie was given the penultimate over and Stafanie opened with a cover drive and a couple of balls later lofted one over extra cover for a sixer. The 14 run over was biggest for WI so far and their last over was to be bowled by Rachel Slater who was so good (conceding just 9 in 3 overs) till now. Rachel had Janiellea in play for the first 2 balls before Stafanie lofted her over extra cover for a powerful six. A couple of singles later, she lofted her over deep midwicket for another six as WI finished at 153/6. WI had scored 51 of the last 4 overs and ensured it was rightfully death overs for Scotland. On the day where WI batters couldn’t get going, Stafanie who turned 35 just a week ago, playing her first match in her 10^th World Cup wound the clock back for Windies and cricket aficionados and displayed belligerent batting with an unbeaten 47 of 19 balls coming to bat in the 15^th over. WI seized the momentum in the last 4 overs after SCO held it well for a good 16 overs.

SCOTLAND INNINGS

GREAT SCOT
Darcey Carter and Katherine Fraser opened the batting for Scotland while the first over was granted to Chinelle Henry. Chinelle started with a no ball but Darcey couldn’t convert the free hit for boundary. But Katherine Fraser had no problems in getting a boundary of the next ball as she produced a blistering square drive. Katherine got another boundary with a miscued pull and it clearly seemed her day. Scoring 14 of the first over, Scotland showed that they put the Stafanie special behind them and were approaching the chase with the right intent. Deandra Dottin operated from the other end and Darcey Carter had her for three boundaries. She reminded me of VVS Laxman as she used the pace and her wrists and without much footwork properly placed the balls to boundaries. Darcey got a boundary of Aaliyah Alleyne in the 3^rd over and SCO were reeling at 33/0 after 3 overs. Skipper Hayley Mathews bought herself in the 4^th over and kept the batters quiet. Qiana dropped a sitter in the 5^th ball after she called when 3 fielders including the keeper chased an inside edge. Karishma Ramharack was the 5^th bowler used in the 5^th over and SCO continued to make merry with 3 boundaries in the over and scoring 50 in 5 overs. A turn in tide was enabled by Hayley when she returned the favour to Katherine having her bowled exactly the way she was bowled by her. The moment the wicket fell, Hayley called the team to huddle and told them that they are still in the game. Kathyrn Bryce walked in and the skipper – skipper contest lasted just 2 balls as Kathyrn miscued one to Chinelle Henry at mid off. Hayley was on course for a double wicket maiden before Sarah cut her last delivery between cover and point for a boundary. Despite the turn around in the last over, SCO were at advantage at 55/2 after power play.

STAYING ON COURSE
Afy Fletcher came in to bowl the 7^th over and in her 3^rd ball flummoxed Sarah to hit one straight to Deandra at backward point. She forced new batter Megan Mccoll to top edge the next ball but Shemaine’s effort didn’t end in a catch. Megan didn’t last long though as she was claimed leg before wicket by Hayley three balls later. Priyanaz Chatterji joined Darcey and SCO from 51/0 in 5 were now 60/4 in 8. Afy and Karishma spun two overs quickly and at half way mark SCO were 71/4. They needed 82 more and though it didn’t seem beyond SCO, it looked very improbable. Afy struck in the 11^th over when Priyanaz scooped one straight to Chinelle at mid off. Alice Lister joined Darcey as SCO started looking listless and the win seemed out of the cart. Alice and Darcey started converting every ball to run and were finding singles consistently. Alice was lucky to get her first boundary in the last ball of 12^th over bowled by Karishma. When Afy completed her spell, SCO were 87/15 after 13 but Alice and Darcey didn’t give up. Hayley came in to bowl the 14^th and Alice thumped one straight back her for an authorative shot after a long time for Scotland. Qiana Joseph was introduced to the attack in the 15^th over and yielded 6 runs that also brought 100 for SCO. Karishma completed her quota in the 16^th over which also saw Darcey Carter getting to 50 in 53 balls. At end of 16 overs, SCO were 106/5. At this stage they were 4 runs ahead of WI, but it looked improbable if Darcey or Alice combined can match a Stafanie special. Nonetheless the duo ensured SCO were staying on course in the chase.

AALIYAH IN GAME’s PLAY
Qiana bowled the 17^th over as Hayley seemed that spin was the best option to keep SCO quiet. Qiana began with a no ball for height and Alice made use of the free hit with a boundary on the leg side. One ball later, she danced down the track to hoist Qiana;s delivery over the off side for a sixer, the first in Scottish chase. The 13 run over brightened SCO spirits and when Deandra started the 18^th over with a hat-trick of wides, SCO believed they were fortune’s favourite. When an injured Darcey edged one for a boundary and cut one for another boundary, SCO were coming alive. They just needed 22 of the last 2 overs and the Alice Darcey partnership had silently crossed 50 in as many balls. Aaliyah Alleyne, the wrecker in chief for Windies last game was entrusted the penultimate over and she delivered the ultimate blow for SCO. She caught and bowled Darcey after inducing a top edge from her in the 1^st ball. Alice played a nice shot in the 3^rd ball and swiped it through cow corner where Janillea Glasgow misfielded the ball for four. That WI managed to laugh it over showed that they still believed strong. That belief showed in the 5^th & 6^th balls where Aaliyah broke the stumps of Alice and Kirstie Gordon first ball. With 3 wickets (the settled pair of Alice & Darcey and the dangerous Kirstie) & just 5 runs including a boundary, Aaliyah brought Windies to the brink of victory. Qiana and spin came in for the last over and Rachel Slater ran 3 twos in the first 3 balls. Needing 11 of 3, she needed to go big and in effort she edged one straight to keeper Mandy Mangru (she came in as substitute as Shemaine felt discomfort). Gabriella Fontenla luckily got a couple in the 5^th ball with a misfield. She hit the last ball to cow corner and was eventually run out in trying to find the non-existent 2^nd run. WI breathed a huge sigh of relief. SCO scared the daylights out of WI and need a pat on back for such a convincing performance.

 Images Courtesy – ESPN Cricinfo