The West Indies Women cricketers won 13 (52 per cent) of the 25 matches played in 2024. They won ten (62.5 per cent) of 16 T20 matches, inclusive of the three wins at the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 Women World Cup in the UAE. In three bilateral ODI series against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and India, they won three (33.3 per cent) of the nine matches.
ICC ODI World Championship
In 2024, the West Indies played three away series in the ICC – ODI World Championship 2022-25 against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and India.
After comprehensively defeating Pakistan 3-0, the West Indies suffered a similar fate at the hands of Sri Lanka and India, respectively.
In the three-match series against Pakistan in April, captain Matthews dominated the Pakistani bowlers, scoring two centuries (140 not out and 141) in amassing 325 runs for the series.
She was supported by Shemaine Campbelle (135 runs) and Stafanie Taylor (122 runs). Matthews capped off a magnificent all-round performance with 6 wickets for 84 runs, supported by Chinelle Henry 5 for 85 runs, Afy Fletcher 4 wickets for 83 runs, and Karishma Ramharack four wickets for 111 runs.
In the three-match series against Sri Lanka in June, they cantered to victory 3-0. None of the WI batters were able to fill the void of Matthews absence in the 2nd and 3rd ODIs. In the three games, the highest aggregate score was 64 runs by Chedean Nation, followed by Aaliyah Alleyne with 57 runs and Stafanie Taylor with 50 runs.
Ramharack was the lead wicket taker, with 4 wickets for 98 runs, followed by Fletcher with 3 wickets for 82 runs and Alleyne with 3 wickets for 94 runs.
In December, the Indian batters clobbered the WI bowling in the first two ODIs, scoring over 300 runs in both matches (9/314 and 5/358). India romped home to victory in the 3rd ODI after the WI were bowled out for 162 in 38.5 overs. In the first ODI against India in Vadodara, India, the team suffered its worst defeat, losing by 213 runs. Captain Matthews, despite failing to score in the first and third ODIs, was the leading scorer with 106 runs, followed by Campbell with 105 runs. Chinelle Henry, in her only match, scored 61 to be the only other batter to cross 50 runs in the series. One of the biggest challenges the team faced was its inability to bat their allotted 50 overs. Zaida James was the leading bowler for the WI with 6 wickets for 102 runs, including a career-best 5 for 45 runs in the first ODI.
Overall, Hayley Matthews was the most productive batter in the 9 ODIs in 2024. She amassed 469 runs at an average of 78.16 with three centuries. Campbell was the only other batter to score over 200 runs with an aggregate of 276 runs at an average of 30.66 runs and a highest score of 52. Matthews 9 wickets for 269, Fletcher 9 wickets for 270, and Ramharack 9 wickets for 346 runs were the lead wicket takers.
T20 Bi-Lateral Series
The three bilateral T20 series that accompanied the ODI series, the WI won seven of the 11 matches. They defeated Pakistan 4-1, Sri Lanka 2-1, and lost to India 2-1. In the series against Pakistan, Matthews led the batting with 205 runs, which included three 50s (58, 68, and 78). The only other batter to score more than 50 runs was Campbell, who totalled 113 runs in the 5 innings.
Fletcher led the bowlers with 8 wickets for 93 runs, with the best figures of 3 wickets for 17 runs in the 5th game. The only other bowler to get 5 wickets was Ramharack, who took 5 wickets for 71 runs, including 4 wickets for 15 runs in the first game.
As in the series against Pakistan in April. Matthews led the batting in the 2-1 win over Sri Lanka. In the 3 games, she scored 108 runs with a top score of 49 in the 3rd match. Campbelle and Taylor offered support with the bat, amassing 62 runs each for the series. Fletcher was the standout performer with the ball, taking 8 wickets for 87 runs, with the best figures of 4 wickets for 23 runs in the 2nd game.
In the final bilateral series for 2024 against India, Matthews and Quiana Joseph led the way with the bat, but it was not enough to prevent India from winning the series 2-1. Matthews struck 85 in the 2nd game to level the series, but India prevailed in the 3rd game. Matthews amassed 108 runs and Joseph 98 runs. The lead bowlers were Henry (3/68) and Fletcher (3/91).
As in the bilateral ODI series, Matthews was the most prolific batter with 421 runs at an average of 38.27 in the T20 series. Campbelle finished with 234 runs at an average of 25.40, and Joseph 165 runs at an average of 23.50. Fletcher was the main wicket-taker with 19 wickets for 271 runs at an average of 14.26. Ramharack took 9 wickets at 25.11, and Matthews took 7 wickets at 30.33; they were the next best wicket-takers.
ICC T20 World Cup
After losing their opening game to South Africa by ten wickets, the WI rebounded to defeat Scotland, Bangladesh, and England to qualify for the semifinal. In a nail-biting semifinal, chasing 129 to win, the WI fell short by eight runs. Deandra Dottin was the leading batter with 120 runs at an average of 40. Matthews scored 117 runs at an average of 23.4 with a top score of 50 against England in the final group game.
Joseph also scored a half-century (52) against England in totalling 99 runs for the tournament. Taylor, who was affected by a recurring knee problem, had a tournament total of 88 runs. Fletcher had a successful tournament with the ball, taking ten wickets for 115 runs at an average of 11.50. Ramharack was the next best bowler with 6 wickets for 79 runs with the best figures of 4 for 17 against Bangladesh.
For 2024, Matthews amassed 1,007 in all matches at an average of 45.77 with 3 centuries and 5 half-centuries. Campbelle finished with 558 runs, followed by Taylor with 352 runs, Joseph with 290 runs, and Henry with 244 runs. Fletcher was the leading bowler in all matches with 38 wickets at 17.42.
She was followed by Ramharack with 24 wickets, Matthews with 20 wickets, Alleyne with 13 wickets, and Henry with 11 wickets.
The WI finished 2024 ranked 9th on the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 with one outstanding series to be played against Bangladesh in January 2025. In order to participate in the ICC World Cup in India in 2025, the WI will have to do so in the ICC Qualifiers. In the ICC Team ranking at the end of 2024, the WI are ranked 7th in ODI and 6th in T20.
In 2025, the challenge for coach Deitz and his technical team is to get more batters to contribute and a bowling attack that is not heavily dependent upon spin.
