ICC Women's World T20 2018 breaks new ground

Fri, Oct 19, '18

 

The latest edition of the tournament, the sixth, will be the first stand-alone event, a testament to the strides women’s cricket has made in the last decade.

Stafanie Taylor-led Windies aim to emulate Australia by defending their title in 10-team tournament from 9-24 November

England are the only ones to have won an ICC World T20 title in front of their home crowd.

The rising profile of women’s cricket, the fast-paced format and the Caribbean atmosphere will combine to create an entertaining mix at the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 in the West Indies from 9-24 November.

The tournament has come a long way since it was first held in 2009, alongside the men’s event. The semifinals and final were then played as double-headers, with both being televised, giving women’s cricket the best possible platform. The scenario has changed since and the sixth edition of the tournament will be the first stand-alone event, a testament to the strides women’s cricket has made in the last decade.The latest edition of the tournament, the sixth, will be the first stand-alone event, a testament to the strides women’s cricket has made in the last decade.

This is not the first time the tournament will be held in the Caribbean. The 2010 edition was hosted by St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and Barbados. The Windies made it a memorable home tournament, making the semifinals of a global event for the first time.

On the way, Deandra Dottin scored the first T20I hundred in women’s cricket, off just 38 balls, which remains the fastest century till date. Australia beat England in a tied-Super Over in the group stages, and then the Southern Stars went on to beat New Zealand in the final in dramatic fashion.

With five to win off the last ball, New Zealand’s Sophie Devine connected a furious straight drive, which seemed destined to send the clash into yet another Super Over. But Ellyse Perry stuck her foot out to deflect the ball in her follow through, sparking wild celebrations, and giving Australia the first of three consecutive ICC World T20 titles.

A year before that, the inaugural edition was held in England, alongside the second men’s ICC World T20. In the semifinals, England scripted a remarkable chase against Australia, overhauling a mammoth 163, thanks to an unbeaten 76 from Claire Tailor, who finished one run short of being the tournament’s highest run-scorer. That momentum took England to their only ICC Women’s World T20 title; they beat New Zealand, and became the first and only team, male or female, to win an ICC World T20 title in front of their home crowd.

India hosted their first ICC World T20 in 2016, a tournament that saw women’s group games being televised. The tournament saw a number of close finishes on tracks that took some turn, with eventual champions the Windies beating India by just three runs to qualify for the semifinals. Before that, they were beaten by England by just one wicket.

On the way, Anisa Mohammed became the only player to take 100 T20I wickets. That tournament was also the last for England veteran Charlotte Edwards, who holds the record for most runs scored in ICC Women’s World T20s.

Appearing in their fourth straight semifinals, the Windies finally found the gear they needed to go higher, beating New Zealand, who were rated pre-tournament favourites. In the final waited - who else but Australia - hungry for their fourth consecutive title, and now led by Lanning. The Windies too had a change of captain, with Stafanie Taylor taking over the reins from Merissa Aguilleira.

By the time the sun set, the Windies had celebrated their second ICC title of the year, with their junior men’s team having won the U19 World Cup a month before. Hayley Matthews, 18, top-scored with 66 to chase down Australia’s formidable 148.

History was made; no team besides Australia, England, and once New Zealand had won a world title in either format, since the first Women’s World Cup in 1973. By the end of the night, two became three as the Windies men clinched a trophy of their own.  

Now the ICC Women’s World T20 returns to the West Indies, in an independent avatar and at some new venues. Guyana, St Lucia and Antigua will host the best in the world, as the home team will try to defend their title.

Past tournaments

Year	Venue	Winners	Runners-up	Victory margin
2009	England	England	New Zealand	6 wickets
2010	West Indies	Australia	New Zealand	3 runs
2012	Sri Lanka	Australia	England	4 runs
2014	Bangladesh	Australia	England	6 wickets
2016	India	Windies	Australia	8 wickets