A dramatic and scary moment occurred during the second semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Sharjah. West Indies player Shinel Henry suffered a painful injury while attempting to catch a ball during New Zealand’s innings. The ball hit Henry on the forehead, forcing her to leave the field immediately.
The Incident in the 12th Over
The unfortunate event took place in the 12th over of the New Zealand innings on Friday, 18 October. Kiwi batter Amelia Kerr hit a strong shot towards long-on, where Henry was fielding. It looked like an easy catch for Henry, but due to the brightness of the floodlights, she misjudged the ball’s flight. The ball slipped through her fingers and struck her hard on the forehead, just above her left eye.
Henry collapsed on the ground in pain as her teammates and medical staff rushed to her side. After being assessed on the field, she was taken off for further treatment.
Shinel Henry Taken Off the Field for Medical Attention
The medical team spent a significant amount of time checking on Henry, and when it was clear her injury was severe, she was escorted off the field. Reports later confirmed that Henry was seen walking with the help of the support staff in the dressing room. Her fitness remained a concern throughout the rest of the match, but she had already contributed to the West Indies’ bowling effort before the accident.
Henry bowled tightly in her four-over spell, conceding only 24 runs, though she did not manage to pick up a wicket.
New Zealand Struggles with the Bat
New Zealand’s batting was underwhelming in the semi-final, managing just 128 runs in their 20 overs. Georgia Plimmer top-scored with 33 runs off 31 balls, and Isabella Gage added a useful 20 off 14 balls in the final overs to help the team post a competitive score.
For the West Indies, Deandra Dottin starred with the ball, taking 4 wickets for just 22 runs in her spell, keeping the Kiwis in check throughout the innings. As the match progressed, West Indies hoped to capitalize on their strong bowling performance and book their place in the final against South Africa.
