WI Women Out

West Indies Women fell agonizingly short of qualifying for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup later this year despite a heroic performance against Thailand in their final match of the World Cup Qualifiers.

Needing to score 167 in 10.1 overs to boost their net run rate (NRR) above Bangladesh Women’s after dismissing Thailand for 166 in 46.1 overs, the West Indies Women finished on 168 for 4 off 10.5 overs, 4 balls too many.

The result left West Indies Women and Bangladesh Women tied on six points, but Bangladesh Women claimed the final qualifying spot with a NRR of 0.639, while the West Indies’ NRR was 0.626.

The regional side, came into the match knowing that only a massive victory over Thailand would give them a chance of qualifying.

At the Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in the day’s opening match to give them hope before Hayley Matthews won the toss and sent Thailand in to bat.

Thailand got a decent start with openers Nattaya Boochatham (29) and Chanida Sutthiruang, who made 21, along with Nannapat Koncharoenkai as they progressed to 64 for one.

But once Boochatham was bowled by Aliyah Alleyne, spinner Afy Fletcher took four quick wickets causing them to collapse to 85 for six.

Natthakan Chantham scored a half century to revive the innings, making 66 from 98 balls before she was last out, as Thailand’s last four wickets added 81 runs.

Fletcher ended with 4-20, while Alleyne (3-41) and Ashmini Munisar (2-15).

Faced with the task of scoring almost 17 runs an over, West Indies Women got a great start from Matthews and Joseph, scoring just nine runs from the opening over, Matthews then smacked offspinner Nattaya Boochatham for a six and two fours in the next over which yielded 17 runs.

Matthews then scored 19 runs off the next over before Joseph joined in hitting Boochatham for 18 runs as the West Indies reached 63 without loss after four overs.

Matthews then brought up her half century in 21 balls when she hit Chanida Sutthiruang for three boundaries in the fifth over.

The partnership ended when Thipatcha Putthawong dismissed Joseph for 26 with the score on 81.

They also lost the crucial wicket of Matthews for 70 off 29 balls, inclusive of 11 fours and two sixes, to leave them 105 for two after seven overs.

Shemaine Campbelle and Chinelle Henry shared a 41-run partnership off 16 balls before the Campbelle was run out for nine, leaving the West Indies 146 for 3 off 9.4 overs and requiring 21 runs from 3 balls.

The West Indies still had an opportunity to advance, but they needed to tie the score and then hit a 6 off the last ball of the 10th over.

However, Stafanie Taylor hit a six with the score on 162 to end the contest and seal the West Indies’ fate.