In the first match of the ODI series against West Indies, England came out on top, thrashing the hosts by a mammoth 142 runs. Having won the toss at the Vivian Richards Stadium, skipper Hayley Matthews decided to field first.
England started positively, with both the openers showing a rich vein of intent but West Indies came back well to reduce the visitors to 39-2. Opener Alice Capsey lost her wicket while trying to chase a short delivery that was well outside the off stump. Opener Tammy Beaumont and Natalie Sciver then joined forces to rebuild the innings and they did that quite well before Afy Fletcher got rid of the former.
England lost captain Heather Knight cheaply as well but Nat Sciver and Danielle Wyatt, playing her 100th ODI were involved in a fantastic partnership worth 103 runs to put the pressure back on the hosts. Wyatt was dropped by Chinelle Henry when she was on 19 and it turned out to be a costly mistake. Sciver agonizingly missed out on her 6th ODI century by just 10 runs but the runs kept flowing thanks to a half-century by Wyatt and contributions from Amy Jones and Sophie Ecclestone. Chinelle Henry was by far, the best bowler for the West Indies, picking up three wickets, including those of half-centurions Sciver and Wyatt. The visitors ended with 307 runs on the board, setting their opponents a huge target.
🚨Milestone Alert🚨
Danielle Wyatt is all set to play her 100th ODI match tonight😍#CricketTwitter #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/Ay2ioz0NSz
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 4, 2022
In response, West Indies were put on the back foot very early in their innings as they lost opener, Aaliyah Alleyne, in the third over to Kate Cross. Captain Hayley Matthews retired hurt when she was on 21 because of a muscle injury. However, she did come back later in the innings. Kycia Knight and Rashada Williams then steadied the ship, making 63 runs together. Disaster struck for the hosts as Williams was run-out on 34 because of a moment of indecisiveness. There was no coming back for the West Indies post that as they crumbled under pressure and were eventually bowled out for 165. Charlotte Dean was the pick of the bowlers, ending with figures of 4-35, continuing her good run in international cricket. Nat Sciver was adjudged as the ‘Player of the Match’ for her all-round contributions in the game.
England beat West Indies to take 1-0 lead.
• England: 307/7
Nat Sciver – 90 (96)
Wyatt – 68 (60)
Henry – 3-59• West Indies 165/10
Kycia Knight – 39 (61)
Charlie Dean – 4-35 #CricketTwitter #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/oHHWrptLLU— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 5, 2022
The second ODI will be played on December 6 at the same venue and the hosts will be determined to turn things around.