England battered with the aggression they promised as they kicked off their bid for a primary T20 World Cup title since 2009 with a blistering seven-wicket win over 2016 champions West Indies.
Sophie Ecclestone’s 3-23 helped England restrict West Indies to 135-7 at Paarl, whereas Sophia Dunkley (34 from 18) bought the chase off to an early begin after which watched skipper Heather Knight (32no out of twenty-two) and assistant Nat Sciver-Brunt (40no out of 30) led the workforce to their goal with 33 balls to spare.
Knight had stated in his pre-match press convention, and once more within the draw, that England would proceed the attacking mindset they’ve adopted since Jon Lewis grew to become head coach in November and that proved to be the case as they scored at a charge above 9.5. runs an over and hits 22 limits.
Ecclestone snagged the important thing wicket from West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews, lbw for 42 from 32 balls, after the batter propelled his aspect 69-1 from 10 overs and the England spinner then pinned Afy Fletcher (10) and Zaida James (2) lbw at nineteenth over as Crew Caribbean light within the latter half of their innings.
A objective of 136 didn’t problem an emboldened England batting unit, which had overwhelmed 246 in a warm-up match towards South Africa earlier this week, Knight sealing an emphatic victory by hitting Chinelle Henry throughout six years.
Dunkley adopted up half a century of warm-up towards Proteas and New Zealand with one other fast shot, taking the third, knocked down by Matthews, for 17 with a elegant six and two fours earlier than falling to a wonderful return from Henry (2 -22).
England had gained eight straight towards the West Indies on a Caribbean tour in December, sweeping a three-game One-Day Worldwide Sequence, then a five-game T20 Worldwide Sequence and Sequence, and their dominance over Matthews’ workforce continued.
West Indies had been bolstered by the return of in-form opener Stafanie Taylor once more, however she made a torturous three on 15 balls, taking 10 deliveries to go off the mark and nullifying an lbw dismissal towards Lauren Bell earlier than being pinned in entrance by Sarah Glenn (1 -20).
Matthews had no such issues, with back-to-back limits towards Bell within the third and three-for-four towards Katherine-Sciver Brunt within the sixth, propelling his workforce 47-0 after the ability play earlier than Taylor’s painful innings failed. finish later.
England had been unfastened on the ball at occasions, dispatching 18 extras, however robust on the pitch every so often with Alice Capsey and Knight securing the outs – after which they had been forceful with the bat.
After the beginning of Dunkley, Danni Wyatt (11 from 9) and Capsey (13 from 9), Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt saved the runs going with an unbroken stand of 67 from 44 balls as England put down a marker at their World Cup rivals.
Australia are the overwhelming favorites to win this event and declare a 3rd successive title and sixth general, however England, having embraced the Bazball mentality that invigorated the boys’s Take a look at workforce and with an aesthetic bowler world at Ecclestone, are actual contenders.
“England desires to stroll in the direction of hazard”
Participant of the match, Nat Sciver-Brunt…
“I used to be centered on the boundaries and comfortable to see the workforce at dwelling. We need to be aggressive, take the sport and stroll in the direction of hazard. The extra stress we do it, the higher. We adapt very properly on the counters. We’re having enjoyable right here and hopefully we will proceed.”
Knight: huge step for England
England captain Heather Knight…
“It wasn’t our greatest efficiency out within the area and bowling however we need to be fearless and face the sport and it was good to have a straightforward chase. We tried to go robust on the high and be positives and rating factors.
“This victory was an enormous step to maintain that spirit in an enormous event. We’ve a pleasant combine. The children carry positivity and are fearless. It is a good combine and there is a good environment across the group.
And after?
England return to motion towards Eire in Paarl on Monday (1pm begin) and will not take their opponents evenly after surprising event favorites Australia in a warm-up sport. West Indiesin the meantime, will face India on Wednesday.
India kick off their marketing campaign towards Pakistan on Sunday (1pm) earlier than Sri Lanka, who surprised South Africa on Friday night time, search for two wins from two once they meet Bangladesh (5pm).
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