Former champions England sealed their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World T20, with their thumping 46-win over West Indies.
After winning the toss, captain Heather Knight elected to bat first and posted yet another competitive total of 143 for the loss of five wickets, on the back of Natalie Sciver’s 57. Her knock came at a rate, just better than a-run-a-ball, in able support of Danielle Wyatt.
💯💯 Nat Sciver becomes the first player to cross 200 runs in this #T20WorldCup#ENGvWI SCORE 📝 https://t.co/RUP0abBY4A pic.twitter.com/oAEcfUNbjF
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 1, 2020
Player of the match, Sciver now also tops the chart for the most runs scored in the tournament, ahead of Australia’s Alyssa Healy.
5️⃣0️⃣*
Three fifties in four #T20WorldCup innings for Nat Sciver. What a player!#ENGvWI SCORE 📝 https://t.co/RUP0abBY4A pic.twitter.com/ydLGnd1Wr0
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 1, 2020
The move of sending Tammy Beaumont instead of Amy Ellen Jones backfired as the English lost the former in the very first over. Jones’ provided the finishing blows with her cameo of 23, which came off just 13 balls, in partnership with Katherine Brunt.
For the Windies bowlers, it was the economical spells from Shakera Selman and Anisa Mohammed, conceding runs less than six an over, which applied brakes of England’s proceedings. Both ended with a wicket each.
Chasing a challenging total, their expectations of survival in the tournament suffered a major blow, with their captain Stephanie Taylor being stretchered off the field retired hurt, due to a groin injury.
Yet again, it was the spin-bowling pair of Sarah Glenn (2/16) and Sophie Ecclestone (3/7), who turned out to be the chief architects of West Indies defeat. Both shared five-wickets amongst themselves, much like in the match against Pakistan.
Sophie Ecclestone in the #T20WorldCup so far:
🔹 4 games
🔹 8 wickets
🔹 6.12 average
🔹 3.23 economyLeft-arm magic 💫 pic.twitter.com/YMw8xlXGcx
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 1, 2020
The rest of the damage was done by spells from Mady Villiers and Anya Shrubsole, who picked up a wicket each. From 42-1, West Indies was bundled out for a paltry 97, failing even to bat out their 20 overs.
As it stands, India will meet England in the all-important semi-finals encounter in Sydney on March 5.
🤳🏴
England become the third #T20WorldCup semi-finalists!#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/fVTQ2vzcQi
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 1, 2020
