Key events
Actual breaking news: first-dig events mean that South Africa are through. If England win, they’ll finish second and face Australia; if Windies win they’ll finish first and face New Zealand.
Breaking news: I did not guzzle the Tony’s Chocolonely, but was so feart I did I escorted it with me to pick-up so I could pass it straight over to its rightful owner.
I say that, but Deandra Dottin is a superstar, on one, and will believe, with good reason, that this is her time.
When they were put in, England will have wanted more than the 141 with which they ended up. But West Indies will have to take risks to keep up with the rate and, if you’re pushing me, my sense is that England’s bowlers will have enough to restrict them.
I’m not surprised it was Knight and Sciver-Brunt who did most the damage for England. Experience and composure is part of the reason why, but so too is skill, and on a track that doesn’t encourage boundaries, the batters able to manipulate the ball are often more useful than those more inclined to whack it hard.
Thanks Niall and hi again everyone. This is shaping up isn’t it?
England set West Indies target of 142 to win
20th over: England 141-7 (Sciver-Brunt 57, Glenn 1) Sciver-Brunt adds a fine four down the ground to reach 57 off 50 as England end on 141-7. Will it be enough to win, and progress to the semi-finals? Find out here, with my esteemed colleague Daniel Harris.
WICKET! Ecclestone c Dottin b Matthews 7 (England 135-7)
Sophie Ecclestone is certainly capable of clearing the fences – and sends Matthews all the way for six, over deep square leg! She tries again next ball, and this time it drops into Dottin’s lap. Still, a good time for England’s first six of the innings.
19th over: England 128-6 (Sciver-Brunt 52, Ecclestone 1) Dottin is death-bowling in style, a string of yorkers keeping England in check. Knight, back out on the touchline, is urging the pair in the middle to chase some late runs.
WICKET! Gibson c Fletcher b Dottin 7 (England 126-6)
Not in the short term, no. Gibson looks to clear the infield off Dottin’s delivery, but succeeds only in picking out Fletcher, who takes a sharp catch.
19th over: England 126-5 (Sciver-Brunt 51, Gibson 7) The Windies are penalised for a slow over-rate, with an extra fielder brought into the inner circle for the last two overs. Can the England batters take advantage?
Fifty for Nat Sciver-Brunt!
18th over: England 124-5 (Sciver-Brunt 50, Gibson 6) Aaliyah Alleyne comes in, and has the leg-side of the field stacked for Sciver-Brunt – but struggles for range, with two wides and a leg-bye. Sciver-Brunt then finds gaps in said leg-side twice to complete an excellent 50 off 45 balls.
17th over: England 110-5 (Sciver-Brunt 40, Gibson 5) The trusty sweep shot has been key for England again today, and Danielle Gibson chips in with a nice reverse effort for four.
WICKET! Dean c Matthews b Fletcher 5 (England 104-5)
Charlie Dean never really settled and gets reeled in by Fletcher, stretching outside off-stump and sending it directly to the Windies captain, Hayley Matthews.
16th over: England 104-4 (Sciver-Brunt 39, Dean 5) Sciver-Brunt continues at her run-a-ball pace as England pass the century mark. If she can stay in, a decent target is within reach.
15th over: England 96-4 (Sciver-Brunt 35, Dean 1) Charlie Dean comes in next – and should be gone first ball, mistiming and sending a top-edge into the air. Chedean Nation is underneath it but lets it slip through her fingers. What a let off!
WICKET! Jones c Dottin b Fletcher 7 (England 94-4)
Ah, what was I saying? Jones top-edges a fizzing Fletcher delivery straight to Dottin at backward point. That’s a soft one, and puts England back under pressure …
14th over: England 93-3 (Sciver-Brunt 33, Jones 7) The better news for England is that Jones has settled immediately, sweeping Ramharack dismissively away for four. Sciver-Brunt runs another four through the over, taking her to 33 off 33 with only two boundaries.
13th over: England 84-3 (Sciver-Brunt 29, Jones 2) Amy Jones sees out the over, with Dottin restricting the batters to hard-earned singles.
Heather Knight retires hurt on 21
Knight is still really struggling to run, and after Sciver-Brunt takes a single, the captain decides she can’t continue! She leaves the field on 21, with Amy Jones replacing her. That’s a big blow for England with this partnership having put them on top.
12th over: England 79-3 (Sciver-Brunt 26, Knight 21) Hayley Matthews returns seeking another wicket, and looks to have Sciver-Brunt lbw first ball – but the umpire says no, and the West Indies have no reviews left! The DRS replays show it was plumb as it gets – that one’s going to sting.
We then have a mid-over break as Knight needs a bit of treatment from the physio. She’s struggling with her movement, but solves that problem with a reverse sweep for four, helped by a rare bit of clumsy fielding. A strong over for England.
REVIEW: Not out! Knight is saved by the bottom edge of her bat, which caught the ball before it hit her pads. That’s a second review lost for the West Indies, although you can understand why they took the chance.
11th over: England 70-3 (Sciver-Brunt 24, Knight 14) This partnership really could be key to England’s hopes, and although there are some uncertain moments on the run, Sciver-Brunt keeps things moving with a lovely sweep off Munisar. On the last ball of the over, the bowler thinks she has Knight lbw, though – and while given not out, the Windies will take it upstairs …
10th over: England 61-3 (Sciver-Brunt 16, Knight 13) Thanks Daniel, and hello everyone. Deandra Dottin has a bowl for the first time in the tournament, but struggles to find any swing and offers up a pace which suits Heather Knight. The captain finds a gap in the covers for a clinical boundary, as England add seven in the over. We’re halfway through their innings, and time for a drinks break.
9th over: England 54-3 (Sciver-Brunt 14, Knight 8) Knight will fancy herself a captain’s knock here and look at that! She twinkles down to Fletcher’s first delivery, stroking four through cover, then keeps things moving by turning one to midwicket. A dot follows, then three more ones, making it eight off the over, the partnership now 20 off 17, and England are looking a little better. These two have the experience, firepower and moxie to take the game away from West Indies, but another wicket or two and things will look totally different. Righto, I’m away for the school run – here’s Niall Mcveigh to do me a major solid and coax you through the next hour.
8th over: England 46-3 (Sciver-Brunt 12, Knight 2) Alleyne into the attack and Knight twizzles two to midwicket, Dottin escaping with a misfield that doesn’t allow an extra run; might this be her day? Two singles follow, then Sciver-Brunt leaps across her stumps to flip four over her shoulder having anticipated a delivery on her legs; great shot and a boundary on which Englangd were ganting.
7th over: England 38-3 (Sciver-Brunt 5, Knight 1) Sciver-Brunt takes two to midwicket, then Knight adds a single as England begin the rebuild.
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
The ball pitched outside leg. But West Indies’ spinners are enjoying this.
7th over: England 35-3 (Sciver-Brunt 2, Knight 1) There’s no one England would prefer coming in next than Heather Knight, whose composure might allow others to hit around her. She gets away with one to long on then, when Sciver-Brunt faces, she comes down the track wanting to turn to leg, but the ball is too close to her and she wears it on the pad. Not out, says the umpire when West Indies appeal … so Matthews goes upstairs…
WICKET! Bouchier c Joseph b Fletcher 14 (England 34-3)
Trouble for England! Fletcher tosses up her loosener and Bouchier indulges in a swipe, a leading edge sending the ball high … and straight to Joseph at extra! West Indies are all over it!
