West Indies edge dramatic last-over win over defending champs New Zealand in 2026 T20 opener

Defending champions New Zealand were beaten by West Indies in a tense last-over finish at the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup.

Historic T20 World Cup opener The 2026 Women's T20 World Cup witnessed a thrilling Group 2 clash in Southampton where defending champions New Zealand were stunned by West Indies. The match concluded in the final over with West Indies sealing a narrow victory in a high-scoring thriller. West Indies chased down 163 runs with just one ball remaining after a dramatic chase. Shemaine Campbelle remained unbeaten with 90 runs from 62 deliveries to guide her team home. ## Campbelle's emotional fifty milestone Shemaine Campbelle expressed strong emotions at the end of the match as it marked her first T20 half-century in 122 appearances for West Indies. The 19.5-over chase saw Campbelle take responsibility in the final moments. With one run needed off the last over, Campbelle cleverly handed the strike to Jahzara Claxton, who then sprinted for a bye off the penultimate delivery to secure victory. Sophie Devine, the New Zealand skipper, was tasked with defending six runs from the concluding over. ## New Zealand's dropped opportunities New Zealand's defeat was compounded by multiple missed catches throughout the game. Key drop included Hayley Matthews, who was dropped on nine before going on to score 48 runs to support the target. The White Ferns started strongly with 49 runs from the first wicket pair but faced a mini-collapse to 56-3. Izzy Gaze contributed 39 runs at the top order, while Brooke Halliday and Maddy Green added 40 and 35 respectively. Aaliyah Alleyne bowled impressively, claiming four wickets for 27 runs. ## Tournament implications and upcoming fixtures West Indies secured a vital win in a competitive group where England are expected to finish at the top. The fight for the second qualifying position remains wide open following the result. Other matches reported included Australia starting their campaign with a victory over South Africa. Scotland also made history by earning their first T20 World Cup win against Ireland.