During the first T20I of the series between West Indies and Ireland on last Wednesday (15th January), a new history was created. Jacqueline Williams became the first woman to play the third umpire role in the men’s international cricket.
The 43-year-old Caribbean umpire Jacqueline Williams started the women’s international cricket umpiring from 2015. She has officiated as an umpire in 14 Women’s ODIs and 30 Women’s T20Is (including one TV umpiring) till the date.
Jacqueline Williams had an earlier experience to officiate in men’s international cricket
Before creating the new history, Jacqueline Williams officiated in 11 matches in men’s international cricket (five ODIs and six T20Is), all as an on-field umpire. But the full members were not involved in those matches. So, the West Indies vs Ireland T20I match at St George’s was her first experience to officiate in a men’s international cricket match, involving full members. During that game, Jacqueline Williams created history by becoming the first woman third umpire in men’s international cricket history.
Before that match, Williams said, “This is a matter of huge honour for me and I am really excited at the prospect of my role as TV umpire in a men’s international match. I have officiated as a third umpire in men’s matches before, but this is for the first time in an international and that too featuring the West Indies.
“I am thankful to the International Cricket Council and Cricket West Indies for all the help and support over the years and wish that more women take up umpiring in the coming years. Umpiring is a challenging job but one from which I derive utmost satisfaction.”
Ireland won the match by four runs
In that T20I series opener, Ireland beat the hosts West Indies by four runs and have taken the 1-0 lead in this three-match series. After winning the toss, Irish openers provided a firing start as Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien put the 154 runs opening partnership in just 12.3 overs.
Stirling just missed out to become the second Irish batsman, after Kevin O’Brien, to hit a T20I century as he was dismissed on 95 runs which he scored in 47 balls with the help of six fours and eight sixes. Just before his dismissal, O’Brien was dismissed by the T20I comeback man Dwayne Bravo for 48 runs. At the end of 20 overs, Ireland managed to score 208/7 as all other Irish batsmen failed to reach the 20-run mark.
On his T20I return, Dwayne Bravo impressed with his bowling as he had the bowling figures of 4-0-28-2. But he failed to secure a victory with the bat as he was dismissed on nine runs when West Indies needed to score four runs in last two balls.
In reply, the hosts were chasing that target very well but just felt four runs short from Ireland’s total (204/7 in 20 overs). While the opener Evin Lewis scored 53 runs, captain Kieron Pollard scored 31 runs. Also, Lendl Simmons (22), Shimron Hetmyer (28), Nicholas Pooran (26) and Sherfane Rutherford (26) provided crucial contributions for this team. Irish left-arm pacer Josh Little took three wickets (3/29) in that innings.