West Indies' Zaida James became the second opening bowler in consecutive matches of the women's T20 World Cup to have to leave the field after bowling a single delivery, when she was hit in the face trying to take a return catch off Laura Wolvaardt.
James was injured after bowling a full ball to the South Africa captain, which was drilled straight back at her. With little time to react, James just managed to get her fingertips to the ball before it broke through and smashed her on the left side of her jaw. The area looked to immediately start to swell up and the physio was called out onto the field to attend to her.
After she was assessed, James had to leave the field and looked in considerable pain. Fellow left-arm finger spinner Qiana Joseph was called upon to finish her over, and conceded five runs off the remaining five balls. Wolvaardt got off to a flyer in the next over off Chinelle Henry, hitting two boundaries to race to 20 off 13 balls.
James is the second opening bowler in as many matches in the tournament to have to leave the field injured after bowling just one ball. In Pakistan's first game of the tournament against Sri Lanka yesterday (October 3), attack-leader Diana Baig pulled up with pain in her right calf when running into bowl her second ball to Chamari Athapaththu. She limped off the field supported by the team physio and non-playing squad members. There has been no update on the severity of her injury.
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The 2024 women's T20 World Cup kicks off in the UAE with some potential stars to watch out from each team.
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Even before James had to leave the field, West Indies were facing an uphill battle to win their first match of the tournament. On a Dubai pitch which looks much easier to score runs on than its Sharjah counterpart, they were reduced to 83-6 before Stafanie Taylor pushed them up past 100 with an unbeaten 41-ball 44. James also made a valuable contribution with an unbeaten 13-ball 15.
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