Windies Women stumble into Super Sixes after bad loss
MUMBAI, India (CMC) — West Indies Women narrowly squeezed into the Super Six, second round of the ICC Women’s World Cup, here yesterday after their unpredictable batting failed again in a six-wicket loss to defending champions England.
Choosing to bat first at the Bandra Kurla Complex, West Indies were undermined by seamers Anya Shrubsole (4-21) and Arran Brindle (3-0) to capitulate for a paltry 101 off 36.4 overs.
Middle order batsman Kyshona Knight top-scored with 33, while all-rounder Shanel Daley propped up the lower order with 30 not out. However, they were the only two batsmen in double figures as West Indies crashed up front to 31 for six, before losing four wickets for 12 runs at the end.
In reply, England cruised to 66 without loss but suddenly lost four wickets for 13 runs in the space of 26 balls, as Deandra Dottin snapped up three for 20 in quick time.
But opener Danielle Wyatt top-scored with 40 and Heather Knight chipped in with an unbeaten 18 as England recovered to safely reach their target.
With the loss, West Indies’ solid net run rate of +1.040 plummeted to +0.276 and they were then forced to wait anxiously on the outcome of India’s clash with Sri Lanka before sealing their spot in the next round.
The hosts disappointed their home crowd, going down by 130 runs to Sri Lanka to finish level with West Indies on two points but with an inferior net run rate of -0.433.
West Indies will now travel to Cuttack to renew their rivalry with South Africa in their opening game of the Super Sixes on Friday.
Coming off their massive 368 against Sri Lanka at the weekend, things quickly went badly for West Indies. Openers Kycia Knight and Stafanie Taylor were removed in successive overs without scoring after just nine deliveries and Shemaine Campbelle (2) and Juliana Nero (0) perished in the space of three deliveries in the tenth over, as the Caribbean side sank to 14 for four.
Captain Merissa Aguilleira was run out four after losing her bet against Lydia Greenway’s arm in the 14th over and when the dangerous Deandra Dottin (4) nicked an outswinger from Brunt behind, West Indies were in chaos.
However, left-handers Knight and Daley came together in a 58-run, seventh-wicket stand to save their side from embarrassment, and ensure they got beyond the 100-run mark.
Knight faced 86 balls and hit a single boundary, while Daley was more aggressive, stroking four fours in her 76-ball stay at the crease. The partnership was ended through Brindle who took three of the last four wickets to fall.
Wyatt and Brindle gave England a handy start to erase any hopes the Windies may have had of an early breakthrough. The 21-year-old right-handed Wyatt faced 80 balls and stroked six fours while the seasoned Brindle scored 14.
Dottin broke the stand by claiming Brindle to a catch at the wicket and then trapped Sarah Taylor lbw off the next delivery without scoring.
Fast bowler Subrina Munroe accounted for Wyatt via the lbw route before Dottin picked up her third in similar fashion when she sent back Greenaway for two.
However, Knight quickly quelled any thoughts of a sensational collapse by steering England home with three fours in her brisk 26-ball knock.