Wicket-keeper batter Amy Jones’ maiden ODI ton, Tammy Beaumont’s century, and a Linsey Smith five-fer on debut gave England an ODI series lead in the three-match series with a massive 108-run victory in the 1st ODI.
The visitors, the West Indies, suffered a massive blow as they lost their regular skipper Hayley Matthews to a shoulder injury, which she suffered in the 1st game of the series. The wicket-keeper batter Shemaine Campbelle took up the leadership duties in her absence in the 2nd ODI at Grace Road, Leicester. Both sides made a few changes to their sides for this fixture. Alice Davidson-Richards replaced Emily Arlott, and Lauren Filer replaced Charlie Dean in their starting 11.
As far as the visitors are concerned, they had one forced change, as Jannillea Glasgow replaced regular skipper Hayley Matthews, the 20-year-old Realeanna Grimmond made her ODI debut, replacing Qiana Joseph, and Stafanie Taylor replaced Mandy Mangru in the side for the 2nd ODI.
Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont lead the charge yet again with consecutive centuries
England’s new opening pair of the wicket-keeper batter Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont justified the skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt’s decision to bat first after winning the toss in the 2nd ODI at Leicester. The opening duo entered into the record books as they became the 1st pair to register consecutive 200+ runs partnerships in Women’s ODIs en route to their 202-run opening stand in the 2nd game of the ongoing three-match series.
Karishma Ramharack finally broke the stand, by sending the wicket-keeper batter Amy Jones (129 off 98 balls) back to the pavilion in the 30th over of the innings, providing a much-needed first breakthrough for the West Indies. She registered her 2nd consecutive century in ODIs before getting dismissed. Her knock included 20 boundaries.
Emma Lamb joined Tammy Beaumont at the crease, and the duo stitched another crucial 71-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take the closer to the 280-run mark. Karishma Ramharack returned and picked up another big scalp by sending Tammy Beaumont (106 off 109 balls) back to the pavilion in the 40th over of the innings to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side.
Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt joined Emma Lamb at the crease, and the pair took them past the 300-run mark with a vital 35-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Aaliyah Alleyne got the prized scalp of the opposition skipper, Nat Sciver-Brunt (12 off 13 balls), to provide the 3rd breakthrough for the visitors in the 44th over of the innings. England eventually ended up with a massive total of 366/6 in their quota of 50 overs, on the back of cameos from Sophia Dunkley (31 off 19 balls) and Alice Capsey (16 off 13 balls) towards the end of the innings.
Karishma Ramharack (10-0-57-2), Aaliyah Alleyne (6-0-52-2) were the stand-out performers with the ball for the West Indies, while Afy Fletcher (9-0-58-1), and Jannillea Glasgow (8-0-59-1) were impressive with the ball for their side.
Realeanna Grimmond, Jannillea Glasgow put up a fight before England seal the win
Chasing a mammoth total of 367, the West Indian openers Realeanna Grimmond and Zaida James got off to a confident start with a crucial 37-run opening partnership, scoring at a brisk rate. Lauren Bell picked up the wicket of Zaida James (19 off 20 balls) to provide the first breakthrough for England in the 7th over of the run chase. Stand-in skipper Shemaine Campbelle joined Realeanna Grimmond at the crease, and the duo stitched a 24-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take them past the 50-run mark.
Linsey Smith picked up the wicket of the stand-in opposition skipper Shemaine Campbelle to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side in the 15th over of the run chase. The visitors failed to keep up with the required run rate throughout the run chase, however, there were a few positives in the form of Jannillea Glasgow (44 off 24 balls), who gave hope alongside Jahzara Claxton (18 off 24 balls), and Cherry-Ann Fraser (24 off 30 balls), keeping the fight on, before they were eventually bundled out for 223, in 46th over of the run chase falling 143 runs short of the target.
The debutant Realeanna Grimmond (53 off 72 balls) sparkled with a brilliant half-century under pressure, top scoring for her side in the run chase. Stafanie Taylor (20 off 39 balls) and Karishma Ramharack (15 off 13 balls) chipped in with a crucial contribution with the bat for their side in a stiff run chase.
Alice Capsey (8.4-1-41-3) and Linsey Smith (10-1-27-2) were the standout performers with the ball for England, while Lauren Filer (9-1-44-2), Kate Cross (8-0-33-1), and Lauren Bell (7-1-42-1) were impressive with the ball for their side. Kate Cross also became the 2nd fastest after Sophie Ecclestone in terms of the number of innings to complete 100 ODI wickets to her name.
Wicket-keeper batter Amy Jones bagged her 2nd consecutive Player of the Match award for her career-best performance (129 off 98 balls), with the bat for her side, and also picked up a couple of catches, playing a pivotal role alongside Tammy Beaumont and the entire bowling unit as England sealed the three-match ODI series, with a game to go.
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