West Indies Beats Scotland by 7 Runs to Stay Unbeaten at Women's T20 World Cup

The West Indies maintained their unbeaten record at the Women's Twenty20 World Cup with a dramatic seven-run victory over Scotland at Headingley in Leeds, England on Thursday. Scotland required 154 runs to win—a record chase for the team—and kept themselves in contention throughout the match, reaching 132-5 with two overs remaining. However, West Indies medium-pacer Aaliyah Alleyne proved decisive in the crucial 19th over, taking three wickets including Darcey Carter (59) to turn the tide. Scotland was all out for 146 on the final ball, requiring 17 runs from the last over they could not manage.

The West Indies had been under significant pressure during their own innings. Scotland's tight bowling and fielding restricted them to 124-6 after 18 overs, but veteran Stafanie Taylor, returning after missing the opening victory against defending champion New Zealand, provided a crucial rescue effort. Taylor scored an unbeaten 47 off 19 balls, including 34 runs in boundaries, lifting the West Indies to 153-6. The team added 29 runs in the final two overs, with Taylor contributing 26 of those runs.

Scotland's chase began promisingly with Katherine Fraser and Darcey Carter providing a strong start. Fraser was instrumental in the field throughout, taking two wickets and effecting a run out of Shemaine Campbelle (36). However, the West Indies fought back by taking four wickets in just 13 balls in the eighth over, shifting momentum decisively. Carter's injury in the fourth over hampered Scotland's batting, as the struggling batter failed to hit a boundary after the fifth over until the 18th, contributing to a five-over boundary drought that ultimately proved costly.

With the victory, the West Indies and England remained undefeated in Group 2, with both teams positioned to advance to the semifinals as the top two qualifiers. The match showcased both teams' resilience, with Scotland nearly pulling off an unlikely victory before Alleyne's intervention secured the West Indies' progression in the tournament.