By Dwayne Ferreira.
West Indies Women vs Scotland Women ended in a seven-run T20 World Cup thriller as Stafanie Taylor and Aaliyah Alleyne sealed victory.
West Indies Women vs Scotland Women produced one of the most dramatic matches of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, as the Caribbean side survived a major scare before winning by seven runs at Headingley, Leeds.
West Indies posted 153 for 6 in their 20 overs after being sent in to bat by Scotland, before bowling out Scotland for 146 in a tense chase that went down to the final over.The result gave West Indies Women two wins from two matches and strengthened their position in Group B, but the narrow margin showed how far Scotland Women have come on the world stage.
For long periods, Scotland looked capable of pulling off another major result. They had already entered the match with confidence after beating Ireland in their opening game, and they carried that belief into both innings against a stronger and more experienced West Indies team.
West Indies struggled for rhythm early in their innings. Qiana Joseph made 13, while captain Hayley Matthews was dismissed for 14 as Scotland’s bowlers kept the pressure on through disciplined lines and smart field placements. Shemaine Campbelle gave West Indies some stability with a valuable 36 from 26 balls, but regular wickets kept Scotland in control. When West Indies slipped to 85 for 5, Scotland appeared to have a strong chance of restricting them to a below-par total.
The match changed late in the innings through the experience and power of Stafanie Taylor. Returning to the side, Taylor produced a brilliant unbeaten 47 from just 19 balls, striking four boundaries and three sixes. Her late assault lifted West Indies past 150 and gave them a total that proved just enough. Jahzara Claxton also played an important cameo, scoring 16 from 9 balls, helping Taylor add crucial runs in the closing overs.
Scotland’s chase began in fearless fashion. Darcey Carter and Katherine Fraser attacked from the start and took Scotland to 51 without loss inside the powerplay. At that stage, West Indies were under serious pressure and Scotland looked fully in control.
However, Matthews dragged West Indies back into the contest with the ball. She removed Fraser for 20 and then dismissed Kathryn Bryce for a duck, changing the mood of the match almost immediately. Scotland then suffered a damaging collapse, slipping from 51 for no loss to 74 for 5. Matthews and Afy Fletcher slowed the scoring rate through spin, forcing Scotland into mistakes and bringing West Indies back into the game.
Carter refused to give in. She battled through the innings and made a fighting 59 from 62 balls, keeping Scotland alive when the chase appeared to be slipping away. Ailsa Lister then added fresh momentum with 33 from 25 balls, including four boundaries and a six.
The Carter-Lister partnership gave Scotland hope again and brought the equation down to 22 runs needed from the final two overs with five wickets still in hand. That was when Aaliyah Alleyne delivered the decisive over of the match. She removed Carter, bowled Lister and then dismissed Kirstie Gordon in the same over to swing the match back in West Indies’ favour. Scotland needed 17 from the final over, but West Indies held their nerve. Qiana Joseph closed out the match as Scotland were bowled out for 146 from the final ball.
Taylor was named Player of the Match for her explosive unbeaten innings, but Alleyne’s 3 for 11 and Matthews’ 3 for 19 were equally important in deciding the result.
MATCH SUMMARY
West Indies Women – 153/6
Stafanie Taylor 47*, Shemaine Campbelle 36, Jahzara Claxton 16
Katherine Fraser 2/34, Rachel Slater 1/23, Kathryn Bryce 1/30
Scotland Women – 146 all out
Darcey Carter 59, Ailsa Lister 33, Katherine Fraser 20
Aaliyah Alleyne 3/11, Hayley Matthews 3/19, Afy Fletcher 2/16
Result: West Indies Women beat Scotland Women by 7 runs
Player of the Match: Stafanie Taylor
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Absurd time schedule ensured that the enormous number of TV viewers in India Pakistan and Sri Lanka would have to stay awake all night to see this exciting finish! And, we’ll NEVER know why a better arrangement couldn’t have been made!!