Deandra Dottin and Afy Fletcher Shine in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Team Selection

Deandra Dottin and Afy Fletcher were the two West Indian players selected for the ICC’s official Women’s T20 World Cup team this year.

Barbadian all-rounder Dottin made a remarkable return to international cricket, scoring 120 runs at an impressive average of 40, playing a pivotal role in the West Indies’ middle order. Her tally of nine sixes was unrivalled, surpassing the combined total of Australia, England, and India (8). The next closest player, her teammate Qiana Joseph, managed just three.

Dottin also made significant contributions with the ball, taking five wickets, including a standout 4 for 22 in the semi-final against New Zealand, and proving her worth in the field with four catches.

Her 37-year-old Grenadian teammate, Afy Fletcher, finished with the third-highest wicket haul in the tournament. After a difficult outing against finalists South Africa, where she went wicketless in a 10-wicket defeat, Fletcher rebounded with strong performances, claiming 10 wickets overall. Her best figures, 3 for 21, came in a crucial six-wicket victory over England, effectively a quarter-final.

In the semi-final, Fletcher took two vital wickets and contributed an unbeaten 17, though her efforts were in vain as the West Indies were knocked out by eventual champions, New Zealand.

The Women in Maroon were joined in the tournament’s best XI by players predominantly from finalists South Africa and champions New Zealand. South African openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits earned their places with run tallies of 223 and 187 respectively, both recording a half-century. England’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge was selected at number three, averaging 50.33 from the group stage with a total of 151 runs, including one half-century.

Amelia Kerr, named Aramco Player of the Tournament and Player of the Match in the final, headlined the middle order. Kerr’s exceptional all-round performance saw her score 135 runs and take 15 wickets, the most in the competition, including her best figures of 4 for 26 against former champions Australia. She was joined by India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored two half-centuries despite her team’s early exit, and Bangladesh’s Nigar Joty, who managed seven dismissals and scored 104 runs.

New Zealand’s Rosemary Mair was a standout performer with the ball, especially in her side’s pivotal 52-run upset over India, where she took 4 for 19. She maintained this form throughout the competition, averaging 11.70 with 10 wickets. South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba, who claimed 12 wickets, and Australia’s Megan Schutt, with eight, rounded off the official T20 World Cup XI. (JC)