West Indies Vs New Zealand Highlights, Women's T20 World Cup: Campbelle’s Unbeaten 90 Guides WI-W To Win

Hello and welcome back to our live blog covering West Indies Women vs New Zealand Women. Stay tuned for all the live updates from this exciting clash at the Rose Bowl.

New Zealand Women Squad: Georgia Plimmer, Isabella Gaze(w), Amelia Kerr(c), Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Sharp, Jess Kerr, Suzie Bates, Polly Inglis, Nensi Patel, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Bree Illing, Flora Devonshire

West Indies Women Squad: Hayley Matthews(c), Shemaine Campbelle(w), Shawnisha Hector, Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Jahzara Claxton, Mandy Mangru, Zaida James, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Qiana Joseph, Aaliyah Alleyne, Jannillea Glasgow, Ashmini Munisar

The West Indies Women vs New Zealand Women clash in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be available live on the Star Sports Network in India, while fans can also stream the match on the JioHotstar app and website to catch all the action from the tournament.

The stage is set at the Rose Bowl as defending champions New Zealand begin their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against 2016 winners West Indies. The two sides renew their rivalry after New Zealand edged a thrilling 2024 semi-final, where Amelia Kerr produced a match-winning spell to break West Indies hearts.

Led by Melie Kerr, the White Ferns enter a new phase, while West Indies, powered by Hayley Matthews alongside experienced stars Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin, will look to make a bold statement by toppling the champions in their opening game.

West Indies Women have won the toss and have opted to field.

New Zealand Women (Playing XI): Georgia Plimmer, Isabella Gaze(w), Amelia Kerr(c), Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Sharp, Jess Kerr, Nensi Patel, Rosemary Mair, Bree Illing

West Indies Women (Playing XI): Hayley Matthews(c), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbelle(w), Deandra Dottin, Jahzara Claxton, Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Zaida James, Shawnisha Hector, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack

And we are underway at the Rose Bowl! New Zealand’s opening pair of Isabella Gaze and Georgia Plimmer walk out to get their campaign rolling. Gaze takes guard and will face the first delivery, with West Indies handing the new ball to Zaida James. The battle begins.

Innovation on display straight away! Isabella Gaze brings out the scoop and finds the boundary in style. She shuffles across early, gets underneath the full delivery from Shawnisha Hector and lifts it neatly over the wicketkeeper’s head. New Zealand are off the mark with a touch of flair as Gaze shows she is ready to take on the challenge.

A moment of brilliance from Deandra Dottin brings West Indies right back into the contest! Aaliyah Alleyne bangs one in short at 103kph, Georgia Plimmer rocks back and goes for the pull, but Dottin is ready for the chance.

She times her dive perfectly and grabs a superb catch inches above the ground to send Plimmer packing. New Zealand lose their first wicket as West Indies draw first blood.

Aaliyah Alleyne is running the show for West Indies as she picks up her third wicket in a superb spell, and this time it’s Isabella Gaze who has to go. Gaze looked set after a brisk 39 off 29 balls, but a mistimed attempt to work it through the leg side proved costly as she dragged it off the cue end straight to Karishma Ramharack.

Alleyne’s variations have been on point all day, and New Zealand are suddenly under real pressure after a promising start.

Qiana Joseph gets it in the slot, and Sophie Devine absolutely goes after it! She brings out the sweep with full commitment, but loses her balance in the follow-through and goes tumbling over, yet the execution is just right.

The ball is timed beautifully, racing away to the deep square-leg fence for four. New Zealand won’t mind the fall one bit; Devine has got them another boundary with pure class and intent.

Hayley Matthews strikes in style. Sophie Devine, looking dangerous on 22 off just 15, goes after one but can’t quite keep it down as she finds the fielder in Jahzara Claxton. Claxton holds on cleanly and West Indies have the breakthrough they were hunting. Devine walks back after a lively knock as Matthews delivers a crucial blow right when New Zealand were looking to accelerate.

Karishma Ramharack is building serious pressure here, three dots in a row now as Brooke Halliday can’t find a way through. This one’s a teasing 80kph full delivery on off, Halliday leans in and drives it straight back to the bowler, but there’s no gap to exploit. West Indies are squeezing the life out of the middle overs with every dot ball.

New Zealand finish on 162/6 from their 20 overs after a rollercoaster innings at the Rose Bowl. Izzy Gaze set the tone early with a brisk 39 off 29, while Sophie Devine (22 off 15) added quick intent before falling to Hayley Matthews.

Brooke Halliday’s 40 and Maddy Green’s unbeaten 35 ensured the White Ferns didn’t lose momentum in the middle and death overs, even as Aaliyah Alleyne ran through the top order with a superb four-wicket burst. West Indies kept striking at key moments, but New Zealand’s late push has given them a competitive total to defend in this ICC Women’s T20 World Cup clash.

Chase time at the Rose Bowl! Qiana Joseph and Hayley Matthews stride out to begin West Indies’ pursuit of 163, with Joseph taking strike to face the very first ball. New Zealand turn to Rosemary Mair with the ball in hand, setting the tone for what promises to be a tense opening spell. West Indies need a steady start, but New Zealand will be hunting early breakthroughs right away.

Jess Kerr starts with fire and precision. She darts in an inswinging yorker at Shemaine Campbelle, who tries to make room and go big by shuffling down the track. But she’s completely beaten for pace and length, only managing to squeeze it off the inside edge onto the pad.

A big appeal follows, but it stays just a dot ball, New Zealand keeping things tight early in the chase.

Oh New Zealand will be kicking themselves here.

Sophie Devine tries to break free, stepping out for a big shot against a good-length delivery outside off from Devine, but she completely misses the slog. She’s well out of her crease and this should’ve been a simple stumping chance for Isabella Gaze, but the keeper can’t gather cleanly and lets it slip through. A big reprieve for West Indies, sloppy from New Zealand, and Campbelle survives when she was almost gone.

Jess Kerr finally gets the reward, and New Zealand hold onto one this time! Hayley Matthews, who had looked so composed, goes after a full ball angled in but doesn’t quite get the timing right, just a controlled punch rather than the big hit she wanted.

She finds Maddy Green at long-on, and this time the catch is taken cleanly, especially sweet for Green after she had earlier put one down. Matthews departs for a fluent 48 off 37, and West Indies lose their big match anchor at a crucial moment.

Rosemary Mair goes searching on a good length, but Shemaine Campbelle is all class in response, she waits, uses the angle, and whips it away through square leg.

There’s a diving effort out in the deep, but it’s just not enough as the ball sneaks past and races to the fence. Campbelle keeps West Indies ticking, and the dugout is right behind her, up on their feet and roaring every run.

West Indies have stunned the defending champions to open their campaign with a statement win. Shemaine Campbelle is at the centre of the celebrations, visibly emotional as her teammates swarm her after a match-winning effort that will be remembered for a long time.

The finish comes in slightly untidy fashion, with a leg-bye scampered as Claxton misfields again and the ball dribbles off the pad to seal the result. New Zealand’s fielding and keeping issues cost them dearly throughout, and they are left to reflect on a missed opportunity as West Indies wrap up a 7-wicket victory.

That’s a wrap from us here. West Indies get their campaign off to a flying start, and what a contest it’s been. We’ll be back with more live action soon, until then, goodbye.