Wyatt-Hodge’s 89 not out knocks holders New Zealand out and sends West Indies through

New Zealand came to The Oval needing a win to keep their title defence alive and left the tournament instead. England, already through to the semi-finals, finished the job in style on Saturday, knocking off a target of 164 with 16 balls to spare for a nine-wicket win that ended the holders’ reign and ushered West Indies into the last four in their place.

Wyatt-Hodge takes the chase apart

Danni Wyatt-Hodge was the difference, an unbeaten 89 off 53 balls that never let New Zealand settle. After England lost an early wicket, she and Sophia Dunkley put on 128 without being parted, Dunkley finishing on 49 not out from 38 balls. The pair brought the target down so quickly that the closing overs became a formality, England home with more than two overs to spare.

New Zealand had given themselves something to bowl at. Captain Melie Kerr top-scored with 42 and Sophie Devine chipped in with a brisk 30 as they posted 163 for 6 from their 20 overs. On most nights that would have been competitive, but Wyatt-Hodge’s range of strokes left their attack with no answers, and a fifth win from five group games confirmed England as the team nobody in this tournament has managed to slow down.

New Zealand out, West Indies the beneficiaries

The result carried weight well beyond the two teams on the field. New Zealand, who lifted the trophy in 2024, needed to win to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals. England’s victory ended that hope and confirmed West Indies as Group 2’s second qualifier, even though the Caribbean side had lost to Ireland earlier in the day.

It is a harsh way for the defending champions to bow out, the product of a group stage in which they never strung together enough wins to stay ahead of the chasing pack. West Indies, who had looked in danger of missing out themselves, will take the lifeline gratefully.

England carry their momentum into the semis

England top the group with a perfect record and the look of a side peaking at the right time. They now wait on the outcome of Group 1, which is settled when India meet Australia at Lord’s, to learn their semi-final opponent. West Indies will face the Group 1 winners in the other last-four tie.

For Wyatt-Hodge, this was a reminder of how dangerous she becomes once she finds her rhythm at the top of the order. England will hope she saves a little more of it for the knockout rounds, where the margin for error narrows and the runs she made look easy on Saturday will be a good deal harder to come by.

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