2022 ICC Women’s 50-Over World Cup: Campbelle has been playing her role very well, says Walsh
By Brandon Corlette
West Indies Women are enjoying a brilliant start to the ICC Women’s 50-Over World Cup in New Zealand, recording two big wins in as many matches. West Indies first upset hosts New Zealand, and then stunned defending champions England in the next match.
West Indies Women’s Head Coach, Courtney Walsh
Head Coach of the West Indies Women’s Team, Courtney Walsh, reflected on the wins thus far, and spoke about the role Guyanese Shemaine Campbelle will play in the tournament.
Campbelle, a Berbician, recorded a player-of-the- match 66 against England in the second match.
Shemaine Campbelle
“She has been showing some form since she got here. It was good for her to get that half-century; it will give her some more confidence as well. She has been getting some 20s, 30s and 40s looking the part and stuff, but has been playing a steady role in the middle in terms of the partnership and exactly the role we want her to play, to bat deep,” Walsh has said.
West Indies Women are unbeaten at the World Cup
“For her and Chedean to carry us deep into the innings was tremendous. We have been asking for that. Ideally, you want someone in the top four or five. Once we have one of them out there doing that, we can have a score that we can fight with. The role she has been playing has been very good,” Walsh said.
In the two matches thus far, West Indies have had contributions from a number of batters, with Hayley Matthews scoring 119, Chedean Nation hitting 36, and captain Stafanie Taylor making 30 to lead from the front in the first match.
In the second fixture, Campbelle struck 66, Nation chipped in with 49 not out, the in-form Matthews made 45, and the dangerous Deandra Dottin made 31.
Despite the scores not being 300 plus, the bowlers have shown great fight to defend 259 and 225 in the two matches.
“I think it is a very good performance, I think it has been tremendous! The beauty about it is that everyone has chipped in so far in the two games,” Walsh told the media in a virtual press conference.
Walsh added: “It is safe to say that we (are) competing. We believe that we have a very good chance of going all the way. With those two wins behind us, we are not going to get complacent.”
West Indies will play India in their next match on Friday, March 11 from 9 pm, Eastern Caribbean time.
