England secured a decisive 38-run victory over the West Indies on Thursday to become the first team to advance to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The match, played at Lord’s, saw England dominate from start to finish in a Group B encounter that recalled their previous tournament exit at the hands of the West Indies two years ago.

Batting first, England posted 186 for seven, marking the highest Women’s T20 International total ever recorded at the historic venue. Danni Wyatt-Hodge continued her strong form in the tournament, following an opening century against Sri Lanka with a rapid 65 runs. She received valuable support from captain Heather Knight, who scored 43, and Alice Capsey, who contributed 28, helping England maintain momentum despite the absence of key all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt.

The West Indies struggled to build substantial partnerships in response. Their hopes largely rested on Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin. Matthews, the West Indies captain, struck a few boundaries early but was dismissed for 14 after a caught-behind decision was upheld following a review by Linsey Smith. Replays indicated a clear gap between the bat and ball. Dottin produced a spirited innings, featuring two fours and a six in the first over bowled by stand-in England captain Charlie Dean. However, Dottin’s aggressive play led to a risky shot that resulted in a crucial catch held by Capsey at the boundary.

Compounding the West Indies’ challenges, all-rounder Stafanie Taylor was absent due to a respiratory illness, leaving the batting lineup further weakened. The West Indies managed to reach 148 for five in their 20 overs but were unable to keep pace with England’s scoring rate.

With this victory, England secured their place in the semi-finals, reinforcing their status as strong contenders for the T20 title despite missing key personnel. The West Indies, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to advance further in the tournament following this setback.