Dropped catches cost White Ferns in T20 World Cup loss to West Indies

A wasteful White Ferns side have fallen to defeat to open their defence of the Twenty20 World Cup, as the West Indies claimed victory by seven wickets in Southampton.

While New Zealand’s 162-6 was plenty on a good batting surface, the White Ferns shelled chance after chance in the field, as the West Indies reached their target with one ball to spare, and completed the second-highest chase in T20 World Cup history.

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews was spilled no fewer than four times on her way to 48, while Shemaine Campbelle was dropped once, and also survived what should have been two stumpings by wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze.

Campbelle would go on to score an unbeaten 90 from 62 balls, her maiden T20 fifty, as the West Indies got revenge for falling to the White Ferns in the semi-final of New Zealand’s World Cup victory two years ago.

In a group that also contains hosts England and Sri Lanka, defeat sees the White Ferns in effective must-win territory, with only two teams from each pool advancing to the semi-final.

The White Ferns had batted well to post 162, highlighted by 40 from 32 balls to Brooke Halliday, while Jess Kerr (2-17) was superb with the ball, only for the fielding effort to undermine both players’ displays.

The White Ferns’ campaign continues on Wednesday morning, when they face Sri Lanka at the same venue.

Nensi Patel drops a catch in New Zealand's T20 World Cup defeat to the West Indies. Photo / Getty Images

Having supplanted Suzie Bates at the top of the order to give the White Ferns a positive start, Gaze did exactly that after New Zealand were sent in, and dominated the opening stand of 49 with Georgia Plimmer (8).

But from 49-0, the White Ferns slumped to 56-3, as Aaliyah Alleyne removed Plimmer in her first over, before returning to have Melie Kerr (5) and Gaze (39) in her second – both caught at mid-on.

Rather than go into their shells, though, the fourth wicket pair of Sophie Devine and Halliday continued on the front foot. The duo added another 45 from 29 balls, including raising the 100 in the 13th over, before Devine perished for 22 when she was caught in the deep off Matthews.

Halliday pressed on, and was excellent against the West Indies’ spinners – sweeping in front of square and reversing behind it – hitting five boundaries in her stay to keep the White Ferns’ run rate above sevens, before she fell at the end of the 18th over, another caught at mid-on to give Alleyne her fourth.

After not completing their innings in the allotted time, the West Indies were punished by only being allowed three fielders outside the circle for the final over, as Maddy Green (35 not out) landed some final blows to lift the total over 160.

While the White Ferns openers added the highest partnership of the innings, the West Indies’ made just 12 before a mix-up saw Qiana Joseph run out by Nensi Patel.

Despite crawling to 35-1 from their powerplay overs – less than a run a ball – the West Indies’ hopes of victory were given a boost by a generous White Ferns fielding display.

Matthews should have been gone for nine, but was dropped by Izzy Sharp at fine leg off Rosemary Mair, then again on 21 when she was put down by Green at cover off Bree Illing.

At the other end, Campbelle was given a life by Gaze when she couldn’t complete a stumping chance off Devine, before an LBW shout off Melie Kerr was overturned by an umpire review.

Two more chances in two balls saw Matthews dropped on 42, by Patel off her own bowling and then by Melie Kerr at cover, before she was finally held by Green off Jess Kerr, having added 74 off 61 balls with Campbelle – who was dropped on 44 – again by Melie Kerr – before clearing long-on to reach her 50 in 39 balls.

Coming in at No 4, the dangerous Deandra Dottin (6) was dropped on three by Mair running backwards, but fell two balls later when she was held by Green to give Jess Kerr her second.

Approaching the point of comedy, Campbelle survived again on 63 when a second stumping chance was missed by Gaze, as the West Indies needed 37 from the final four overs.

A misfield from Sharp allowed Jahzara Claxton to come back for three and give Campbelle the strike, and sent Melie Kerr over the legside fence for her third six of the innings, and left the West Indies needing 14 from the final two overs.

And once the equation was reduced to less than a run a ball, the West Indies got home to bank two valuable points, as Devine couldn’t defend four from the final over.

New Zealand 162-6 (Halliday 40; Alleyne 4-27)

West Indies 163-3 (Campbell 90 not out; J Kerr 2-17)

West Indies win by seven wickets

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.