Women's T20 World Cup: England exit after West Indies defeat | Women's T20 World Cup 2024

England suffered a surprise exit from the T20 World Cup on Tuesday after the mighty West Indies handed them a six-wicket defeat, missing their target of 142 runs inside 18 overs – a margin of victory so large that they beat South Africa at the Net Run overtook place at the top of Group B.

The win means the West Indies will progress to Friday's semi-final against New Zealand at England's expense, while South Africa will have to struggle against reigning champions Australia in Thursday's semi-final.

It is the West Indies' first T20 win over England since 2018 – the same year they last reached the semi-finals of a global tournament – but recent form was of little importance to the Caribbean underdogs, who even matched the feat with one of their own Player Stafanie Taylor took the lead and is missing due to injury.

Instead, this victory was engineered by Deandra Dottin – the player who unexpectedly failed to win after her two-year retirement from international cricket in July this year. On Tuesday night, England wished they hadn't bothered after her electric fielding – two catches, a run-out and a wicket – and 27 runs batted down from 19 balls secured her place on the plane home.

England's 141 for seven was always going to be disappointing at the Dubai Stadium, where three teams have already exceeded 160 in this World Cup. Their woes were compounded when captain Heather Knight was forced to retire injured in the 13th over with a calf injury and was unable to take the field for the chase, handing skipper duties to Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Sciver-Brunt had spearheaded a valiant rescue attempt with the bat and top-scored with an unbeaten 57 from 50 balls after England were 34 for 3 in the first seven overs. Even she narrowly escaped Dottin's trap: she would have been out 26 times had West Indies not already burned through the two available DRS reviews; Instead, the decision remained on the field, not off.

But with Knight absent, England displayed the same emotions as the last time their captain disappeared at a major tournament (the 2022 Commonwealth Games): unbridled panic. Opener Qiana Joseph threw her bat back and forth and was dropped five times, twice leading to England fielders kicking the ball over the boundary rope. During the 10-over drinks break, an angry-looking Jon Lewis was seen protesting with his players, but was unable to stop Joseph hitting a 34-ball 50 shortly afterwards – their first ever in international cricket.

Joseph was eventually caught in the deep by Danni Wyatt-Hodge, while captain Hayley Matthews was caught on the rope six balls later, shortly after reaching her own half-century. But Dottin took matters into his own hands and scored 16 runs before Charlie Dean's next over. She was bowled by Sophie Ecclestone with six runs still needed but Aaliyah Alleyne finished the job with two boundaries.

Previously, Dottin had been completely unimpressive on the field, despite playing two opening games against England, most recently as head coach of a 113-game fixture against Scotland. She intentionally placed herself in the firing line of Wyatt-Hodge's preferred cut shot and made a good low catch at the back point. Five balls later she passed Alice Capsey with a deft pick-up and throw to Shemaine Campbelle behind the stumps.

Dottin then demanded the ball from her captain for the first time in this World Cup and had Dani Gibson caught at cover point in the penultimate over as England – after Knight limped off the field – lost a clatter of wickets at the death. This is a player who describes herself as the “World Boss”, an epithet that often seems overrated, but on Tuesday, as West Indies celebrated the most unlikely of victories, the moniker seemed apt.

Only two games remain between the world boss and the world championship. It seems unlikely, but such is the delicious unpredictability of this West Indian side that it cannot be entirely ruled out.