Windies Women stumble in T20World Cup opener to extend losing streak

PAARL, South Africa, (CMC) – West Indies’ hopes of landing an upset in their opening game of the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup were dashed when powerhouses England brushed them aside by seven wickets at Boland Park here Saturday.

While their much maligned batting group managed to cobble together a decent 135 for seven from their 20 overs thanks to a top score of 42 from captain Hayley Matthews, the target proved insufficient for England who coasted over the line with 33 balls to spare.

Nat Sciver-Brunt led the chase with an unbeaten 40 from 30 deliveries in tandem with captain Heather Knight who stroked 32 not out off 22 balls, while Sophia Dunkley struck an 18-ball 34 at the top of the order.

The defeat for West Indies was the sixth straight to England and 14th on the trot overall, and they will now face 2020 T20 World Cup losing finalists, India, in their crucial second match on Wednesday.

“Out there batting in the middle, we spoke about [probably] getting 145, 150. I think we had a decent start, we probably weren’t able to capitalise at the end,” said Matthews.

“It’s the World Cup. Every match is very important but obviously this next one is very crucial after today.

“We definitely need to get some points on the board. We’ll go [away], reassess, take the really big positives out of today, look at what we can do a lot better and hopefully take it into that game.”

West Indies welcomed back former captain and leading batter, Stafanie Taylor for her first game in five months after recovering from injury and though she managed only three, helped add 47 off 38 deliveries for the first wicket with her successor Matthews.

However, Taylor soaked up 15 balls, resulting in her missing a frustrating cross-batted heave, and falling lbw to 23-year-old leg-spinner Sarah Glenn.

Matthews, who struck eight fours in her 32-ball knock, put on a further 22 for the second wicket with Shemaine Campbelle (34) before she was hit in front by another 23-year-old, left-arm spinner, Sophie Ecclestone, in the 11th over.

Campbell kept up the tempo, lashing four fours off 37 balls in a 41-ball fourth wicket stand with Chinelle Henry (14) before the innings fell away swiftly, West Indies losing both batters in the 17th over as four wickets tumbled for 18 runs in 17 deliveries.

In reply, England too enjoyed a flying start, Dunkley punching four fours and a six in a 37-run opening stand with Danni Wyatt (11) before perishing at the start of the sixth over, brilliantly taken by new ball seamer Chinelle Henry (2-30) on her follow through.

Nat Sciver-Brunt then took control of the chase, first in a 21-run, third wicket partnership with Alice Capsey (13) and then in a 67-run, unbroken fourth wicket stand with Knight.

Sciver-Brunt counted half-dozen fours and a six while Knight struck four fours and a six, both dominating the West Indies attack once Henry was withdrawn after three overs.

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – Veteran lefthander Darren Bravo tugged at the heartstrings of West Indies selectors with his second hundred of the game as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force drew their second round Regional first class contest against Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

The 34-year-old left-hander, whose Test career appeared all but over having not featured in just over two years, struck exactly 100 not out to lift Red Force to 183 for five declared in their second innings on the final day at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

Having been dismissed for 302 in their first innings, the declaration left Hurricanes with an improbable 300 for victory and they finished on 72 for one to avoid any unnecessary late drama.

Earlier, Rahkeem Cornwall completed his 17th first class fifty when he made 67, carrying the Hurricanes innings after they resumed on 243 for seven, still 175 runs in arrears.

Unbeaten on 33 at the start, Cornwall struck seven fours and a couple sixes off 95 balls and found an ally in Hayden Walsh Jr (33) to stretch the eighth wicket stand to 83.

Off-spinner Bryan Charles grabbed two of the three wickets to fall to end with four for 84 while leftarm spinner Khary Pierre took the other wicket to end with three for 63.

Ahead by 116, Red Force had a less than ideal start when pacer Sheno Berridge bowled Keagan Simmons for one in the second over with as many runs on the board before captain Bravo took charge.

He stroked 10 fours in an innings requiring 153 balls and just short of three hours at the crease, posting 85 for the second wicket with Jeremy Solozano (26), 28 for the third wicket with Jason Mohammed (12), and 28 for the fifth with Terrance Hinds (16).

Bravo also scored exactly 100 in the first innings, now raising his first class tally to 14 hundreds.

With survival their only focus, Hurricanes comfortably denied Red Force thanks to opener Montcin Hodge who struck an unbeaten 33 in a 52-run, opening stand with Test batsman Kieran Powell (21).

Hodge batted nearly 1-½ hours and counted half-dozen fours, finding support from Keacy Carty (11 not out) to further frustrate Red Force once Powell departed.