England became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 after beating West Indies by 38 runs in the 22nd match of the tournament at Lord’s on June 24. Danni Wyatt-Hodge scored 65 off 42 balls, and Heather Knight added 43 off 26 as England posted 186 for 7 before their bowlers restricted West Indies to 148 for 5 in 20 overs.
West Indies chose to field first after winning the toss on a scorching evening in London, where temperatures touched 34 degrees Celsius. England made the most of the conditions, building a strong total through a series of solid partnerships before their spin trio dismantled the West Indies chase.
Wyatt-Hodge and Knight Build England’s Total
England lost Amy Jones in the fifth ball of the innings for eight when Chinelle Henry found the edge, and Afy Fletcher took the catch at short third. Sophia Dunkley followed for 14 in the fourth over, dismissed lbw by Ashmini Munisar.
Wyatt-Hodge steadied the innings alongside Alice Capsey, taking England to 57 for 2 at the end of the powerplay, their best opening six overs in the tournament. The pair added 65 for the third wicket before Capsey holed out to Henry at long-on off Karishma Ramharack for 28.
Wyatt-Hodge brought up her fifty off 32 balls and finished with 65 before being run out in the 16th over. Knight then took over, hitting seven fours in her 26-ball 43 before also being run out. Freya Kemp was bowled by Hayley Matthews for four, and Dani Gibson fell for two off the penultimate ball of the innings. Charlie Dean finished unbeaten on nine as England closed on 186 for 7.
Munisar was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with two wickets for 42 runs. Matthews, Henry, and Ramharack each claimed one wicket.
Matthews Controversy Dominates West Indies Chase
The West Indies reply was overshadowed by a DRS controversy in the fourth over. Matthews, the West Indies captain, was given out caught behind off Linsey Smith for 14 on England’s review. One camera angle appeared to show a gap between bat and ball while UltraEdge registered a spike. TV umpire Nimali Perera upheld the decision, but Matthews argued at length with the on-field umpires and later continued to dispute the call with the fourth umpire on the sidelines.
Deandra Dottin hit 19 off 11 balls before miscuing Dean to Capsey at the boundary in the sixth over. Shemaine Campbelle made 20 before being bowled by Sophie Ecclestone, and Jannillea Glasgow was bowled by Dean in the 11th over for six. West Indies were 69 for 4 with the match slipping away.
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England Bowlers Seal Semi-Final Spot
Ecclestone, Dean, and Smith shared four wickets between them as England’s spinners kept West Indies under pressure throughout. Lauren Bell returned figures of one for 20 from four overs, conceding the fewest runs among the England bowlers.
Jahzara Claxton and Chinelle Henry offered the only significant resistance, adding 63 for the fifth wicket. Henry finished unbeaten on 51 off 30 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes, while Claxton made 21 off 34. But their stand was not enough as the West Indies finished 38 runs short of the target.
England took two points from the win and confirmed their place in the semi-finals. West Indies, who remain in the running for a knockout spot, finished without points from this match.
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