Match 2, Paarl, February 11, 2023, 06:30 PM
135/7(20.0ov)
138/3(14.3ov)
England Women beat West Indies Women by 7 wickets
Right then, that is it from this game and it is England Women who have the headstart in Group B. There is one more game to follow on Super Saturday and it will be a Group A game in which Australia Women take on New Zealand Women beginning at 10.30 pm IST (5 pm GMT) at the same venue. You can switch tabs and follow the build-up to that game. Cheers!
Heather Knight, the captain of England Women says that she is pleased with the effort and feels that it was not the best effort with the ball by them but feels that the attitude with the bat was brilliant. Tells that they had the mindset to play aggressively and they want to entertain. Mentions that this game was a good step in that regard. Mentions that youngsters bring real flair and positivity in the group and it is fun to have them in the group. Informs that they will take the day off, chill and they assess the conditions for the next game.
West Indies Women skipper, Hayley Matthews says that when they were batting in the middle they were looking to get around 145-150. Tells that they couldn’t capitalise in the end after the start they got. Says that she is happy to get runs under belt and get the team off to a good start. Feels that with some seniors back in the team it would help the team massively. States that it is a World Cup and every game is important and it is important to get points on the board and get better.
Natalie Sciver is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. She says that the pitch was bit tricky to start with and it was two-paced a bit. Tells that she was concentrating on scoring boundaries and needed to take her team over the line. Says the plan from the team was to play aggressive brand of cricket. Feels that for coming matches they need to keep the communication going in the camp and they had some fun in this game and need to keep going.
The Presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, Hayley Matthews opted to bat first and this turned out to be the wrong decision as Stafanie Taylor got bogged down at one end. Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle did play well and laid the platform for the rest of the batters to explode but that wasn't the case. The English bowlers, especially their spinners were able to put on the squeeze and Sophie Ecclestone picked up three wickets in the latter stages to restrict West Indies Women to an under-par total of 135 runs. Coming to the chase, England Women were positive right from the start and even though they lost 3 wickets, the experience and the depth in their batting proved to be crucial and they wre able to get a big win which will help their net run rate a lot.
West Indies Women didn't have many runs to play with but their pacers didn't start off well. Skipper Hayley Matthews then brought herself on early and got peppered by Dunkley. Chinelle Henry was probably the best of the bunch as she got rid of both openers which included a stunning caught and bowled to get rid of Dunkley. All the other bowlers though failed to provide ample support and they succumbed to a fourth consecutive loss in T20Is. They will now look to bounce back strongly in the next game.
With just 136 needed for the win, Sophia Dunkley started aggressively and kept on finding the fence with regularity. Danni Wyatt couldn't stick around for much and neither could Alice Capsey. Dunkley got into the 30s and got out but she had given the headstart England needed. After that the experienced pair of skipper Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver put on a stand of 67 runs and sealed the victory for England.
A pretty straightforward victory in the end for England Women and they get their campaign underway in style. As for West Indies Women, they were completely outplayed in all departments.
In over# 15
6
0
1
1wd
Chinelle Henry 30/2(3.3)
14.3
6
SIX! The English skipper finishes things off in style! Lovely shot to end the game. On a length and outside off. Knight makes room, takes a step or two forward and plays a delightful inside-out lofted drive over deep extra cover for a maximum. England Women win by 7 wickets!
14.2
.
A slower fullish delivery on off. Knight works it to the mid on fielder.
14.1
1
Shortish and on off. Sciver pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
14.1
1wd
WIDE! On a length and way down the leg side. Sciver tries to clip it but misses.
In over# 14
1
0
1
1
0
1wd
1
Shakera Selman 14/0(2)
13.6
1
A slower length delivery, outside off. Sciver punches it to sweeper cover for a single. Just a biggie away now, England!
13.5
.
Bowls a yorker on off. Sciver digs it out back to the bowler.
13.4
1
Back of a length, on middle. Knight works it to mid-wicket for a single.
13.3
1
Goes fuller and on off. Sciver drives it to mid on for a single.
