West Indies Women will begin their quest for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup glory on Saturday when they take on defending champions New Zealand at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton, with first ball scheduled for 1:30 PM AST.
The highly anticipated Group 1 contest marks the start of the Maroon Warriors’ campaign in a tournament that will see them face New Zealand, hosts England, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland in the race for a spot in the knockout stages.
The West Indies enter the tournament with growing confidence after an extensive preparation programme that included a specialised conditioning and acclimatisation camp in Wales, warm-up fixtures against India and Australia, and a successful outing in the Evara Women’s International Tri-Series in Ireland, where they finished atop the standings ahead of Ireland and Pakistan.
The tri-series victory provided valuable match practice and momentum, with the West Indies producing dominant victories over both Ireland and Pakistan while showcasing encouraging signs with both bat and ball.
Head Coach Shane Deitz believes the team is fully prepared for the challenge ahead and is focused on making a strong start to the tournament.
