Tammy Beaumont, bowlers win it for England; Deandra Dottin’s knock goes in vain

England were brilliant with the ball as their disciplined line and length throughout kept the visitors in check. Katherine Brunt once again led the way with figures 4-1-8-0, while the likes of Natalie Sciver (2/16), Sophie Ecclestone (2/19) and Sarah Glenn (1/27) ensured that the opposition couldn’t free their arms.

Opener Hayley Matthews (three) was the first to go before skipper Stafanie Taylor and Lee-Ann Kirby, both of whom shined during the intra-squad matches, were dismissed for eight and seven respectively. In spite of running out of partners at the other end, Dottin continued her surge plundering six fours and two sixes—her 88m towering hit over the leg side was the highlight— but the lack of support from the opposite end, cost West Indies dearly.

ALSO READ: Want to be the number one allrounder, says Natalie Sciver

“We didn't adapt well to the pitch. Tammy batted really well and set the game up nicely for them. Looking back at that, we thought we were always behind and had to gain some momentum going into the batting. Deandra batted well, but she needed someone to stay there with her. We thought too many dot balls strangled us a bit,” Taylor said at the post-match presentation.

Deandra Dottin hits one through the off-side against England. © Cricket West Indies/Twitter

Earlier, Beaumont played the anchor’s role as England made a blistering start reaching 49 for 1 at the end of the batting powerplay. The right-hander often came down the pitch hitting the likes of Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell over the covers for boundaries.

The 29-year-old was dropped in the second over picking up the length ball down the leg side but Britney Cooper couldn’t cling on to the tough chance. On the other end, Danielle Wyatt gave her partner ample support taking ones and twos regularly.

West Indies finally broke the deadlock in the sixth over when Wyatt trying to cut a Taylor delivery got the thinnest of edges only for the ball to hit stumps. Although there was confusion about whether it was clean bowled or wicketkeeper disturbed the bails, but replays cleared the ball had hit the stump before reaching Shemaine Campbelle.

ALSO READ: Series against West Indies a starting point building towards 2022, says Anya Shrubsole

Sciver, who hit a brilliant 104 at the Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy, perished soon trying to hit a bottom-handed slog-sweep off Taylor only to be caught at by Cooper at the boundary. Skipper Heather Knight joined Beaumont in the middle and the duo stitched together a 51-run partnership for the third wicket.

The English skipper, who was coming of two successive half-centuries in the RHF trophy, continued at her momentum sweeping Taylor for a couple of boundaries in the 12^th over. At the other Beaumont continued her dominance clobbering Afy Fletcher and Aaliyah Alleyne to cleaners bringing up her eighth T20I half-century and second in as many matches (she hit a 51 in RHF trophy).

In fact the first six of the match came from Beaumont’s bat hitting Alleyne over mid-off. However, Knight was to be blamed as she chased a wide delivery outside the off-stump to give a simple catch to Campbelle behind the stumps. West Indies finally came back into the match when they had Beaumont in the 16^th over.

Amy Jones did made a quick-fire 16-ball 24 but wasn’t enough which looked at the 180-plus total, as England lost their last six wickets for 50 runs in 40 balls, thanks to some impressive comeback from Selman and Hayley Matthews towards the end. The hosts finished at 163 for 8.

Brief scores: England 163 for 8 in 20 overs (Tammy Beaumont 62; Shakera Selman 3/26) beat West Indies 116 for 6 in 20 overs (Deandra Dottin 69; Natalie Sciver (2/16), Sophie Ecclestone 2/19) by 47 runs. POTM: Tammy Beaumont.