England Women became the first team to reach the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals after beating West Indies Women by 38 runs in the 22nd match of Group 2 at Lord’s on June 24. Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s 42-ball 65 and a rapid 43 off 26 from Heather Knight powered England to 186 for 7, before a controlled bowling effort restricted West Indies to 148 for 5 in the chase of 187.
England’s bowlers kept West Indies in check throughout, with spinners Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith sharing four wickets between them. Chinelle Henry top-scored for West Indies with an unbeaten 51, adding a 63-run fifth-wicket stand with Jahzara Claxton, but the early damage left too much to do.
England’s 186 built around Wyatt-Hodge and Knight
West Indies struck early when Chinelle Henry removed Amy Jones with the fifth ball of the match, drawing an edge that looped to Afy Fletcher at short third. However, Wyatt-Hodge responded quickly, and Henry’s next over went for 17 as England’s opener settled with a pull through midwicket and a top edge that beat Fletcher.
Ashmini Munisar then made an immediate impact after coming into the attack. She responded to Sophia Dunkley’s reverse sweep for four by going fuller next ball, trapping Dunkley lbw as she attempted to sweep. Despite the early wickets, Wyatt-Hodge and Alice Capsey kept England moving and took them to their best powerplay of the tournament so far, reaching 57 for 2 after six overs.
Wyatt-Hodge continued her strong tournament, backing up her opening-night century with another pivotal innings. She punished short bowling early and then worked the off side with a mix of classic and lofted drives. Her fifty came off 32 balls, brought up with a back-footed flick off the pads to cover, and the innings kept England’s momentum intact through the middle overs.
Capsey provided support and played a reverse for four off Karishma Ramharack, but her stay ended when she advanced to a length ball and lobbed a catch to Henry at long-on. That dismissal ended a 65-run third-wicket stand with Wyatt-Hodge. England still built again as Wyatt-Hodge and Knight added a further 40, with Knight scoring at speed to keep the total trending upward.
Wyatt-Hodge’s innings ended in unusual fashion as she was involved in a run-out when Knight’s cut went straight to the cover fielder. In the heat, Wyatt-Hodge could not make it to the other end. England then looked for late acceleration, but there were no “late fireworks” to match a previous high-powered finish earlier in the tournament. Hayley Matthews removed Freya Kemp when she bowled her attempting to sweep, and Dani Gibson fell cheaply on the penultimate ball of the innings. Knight was eventually run out after surviving a couple of near misses, but England’s 186 for 7 still left West Indies needing a demanding 187.
West Indies’ chase dented early amid a key controversy
West Indies’ pursuit was shaped by both early wickets and a major flashpoint involving captain Hayley Matthews. In the fourth over, England overturned a not-out decision on review when Matthews was given out caught behind for 14 as she attempted a cut off Linsey Smith. Matthews argued she had not made contact, and one replay angle showed a gap between bat and ball while UltraEdge indicated a spike. TV umpire Nimali Perera ruled her out, and Matthews continued to dispute the decision in discussions on and off the field.
On the field, West Indies briefly counterpunched. In the final over of the powerplay, Deandra Dottin took 15 runs off Dean’s first four balls, hitting back-to-back fours and then a six over long-on. Dean responded on the last ball of the over by tossing one up on middle and leg; Dottin tried to clear long-on again but found Capsey just inside the boundary.
West Indies were 46 for 2 after six overs, but England tightened the screws. Ecclestone bowled frugally, and Dean struck again when she had Jannillea Glasgow chop on with the first ball of her next over, giving Dean two wickets in successive deliveries across overs. The pressure ensured the required rate stayed out of reach even as Henry and Claxton dug in with their 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
England’s spinners close it out as semis are secured
England’s control with the ball ensured West Indies never got close to the target. Dean finished with 2 for 31, while Ecclestone and Smith played key roles in limiting scoring and taking wickets as part of the four shared among the spin trio. West Indies ended on 148 for 5, with Henry unbeaten on 51, but England’s 38-run win was already sealed.
The result confirmed England’s place in the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, underlining the impact of Wyatt-Hodge’s second fifty-plus score of the tournament and a disciplined defense that kept West Indies in check from the powerplay onwards.