Henry calls for continued focus despite Windies’ perfect start

West Indies all-rounder Chinelle Henry has praised the composure and resilience of her teammates after they secured a second consecutive victory at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating Scotland by seven runs in a tense contest at Headingley Carnegie.
While pleased with the result, Henry emphasised that the Caribbean side remains focused on continuous improvement as they prepare for their next Group B encounter against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Reflecting on the team’s batting performance, Henry revealed that the players believed a score in the region of 160 would have been a par total on a pitch that offered assistance to the bowlers early on.
“Having been out there batting, we had a discussion that the wicket played a little bit slow up front, so we felt maybe 160 would have been par on that surface,” Henry explained.
West Indies eventually posted 153 for six, thanks largely to a stunning late assault from veteran batter Stafanie Taylor, who blasted an unbeaten 47 from just 19 deliveries to transform the innings.
“When I went out there, the idea was to get as many runs as possible, but I think Stefanie, the way she played today, was really amazing,” said Henry. “The position we were in, she did a really good job finishing the innings for us, and in the end it was enough to bring us over the line.”
Scotland threatened to pull off an upset after a strong start to their chase, but West Indies held their nerve to defend the target and maintain their unbeaten start to the tournament.
Henry acknowledged that no match at a World Cup can be taken lightly, regardless of the opposition.
“This is a World Cup, and no team is here just to make up numbers. Everybody is here to compete,” she said. “We can’t take anyone lightly in this competition.”
The all-rounder admitted Scotland’s aggressive approach during the power play put the West Indies under pressure but praised the team’s ability to remain calm during crucial moments.
“The way they started their innings, we knew they were coming at us really hard, especially in those first six overs. As a team, it was about staying as calm as possible and trusting our skills. Even with the start they got, the score we had was enough to get us over the line.”
With victories over New Zealand and Scotland, the West Indies have positioned themselves strongly in Group B, but Henry insists the focus remains firmly on the next challenge.
“Winning our first two games is always a plus, and it puts us in a really good spot in the group,” she said. “But there are no easy games in this tournament.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s clash with Sri Lanka, Henry believes the team must address its bowling in the powerplay while continuing to trust the process that has delivered two important victories.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and assess those first six overs as a bowling group and see what we can do better. The group has been doing really well, and we’ve just got to keep backing our skills and trusting each other.”
West Indies Women will face Sri Lanka Women on Sunday at 17:30h Caribbean time, aiming to extend their winning streak and strengthen their push for a place in the semi-finals.