England Women vs West Indies Women: In the final showdown of the three-match T20I series at the County Cricket Ground in Chelmsford, England Women posted a competitive total of 144/5 in 20 overs after West Indies Women won the toss and chose to bowl first. While the hosts have already sealed the series 2-0, both sides brought intensity to this final encounter, with Heather Knight standing tall with a composed 66 off 47 balls*.
Early Jitters for England
England got off to a shaky start as Danni Wyatt-Hodge was dismissed on the very first ball of the innings by Zaida James, setting a tense tone early on. Sophia Dunkley followed soon after, contributing just 3 runs before falling to West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews, who was the standout bowler for her side.
At 21/2 within the first five overs, England needed stability—and their experienced captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, provided it initially. She built a cautious 48-run stand with Knight before she too departed for 37 (40 balls), again falling prey to Hayley Matthews.
Captain Knight to the Rescue
From that point on, Heather Knight took charge. Mixing elegant boundaries with timely singles, she kept the scoreboard ticking despite the frequent fall of wickets at the other end. Her 66 not out included 7 fours and a six, anchoring England through to a respectable total despite the lack of substantial partnerships.
Amy Jones added a quick 22 from 17 balls before being bowled by Matthews, who finished with 3 wickets for 32 runs in her 4 overs. Youngster Alice Capsey couldn’t make an impact today, falling cheaply for 4. A brief cameo from Emily Arlott helped take England to 144/5 at the close of innings.
West Indies Bowlers Shine Bright
Despite losing the series, the West Indies bowlers stepped up in this final clash. Jahzara Claxton impressed with her economy, conceding just 15 runs in 4 overs while picking up the important wicket of Capsey. Zaida James was particularly effective with the new ball, claiming Wyatt on the opening delivery.
While the fielding was largely tight, a few misfields and extras allowed England to push past the 140 mark. Nonetheless, West Indies will be pleased with their disciplined effort after leaking runs in the earlier games.
Can West Indies Chase Down 145?
With a modest target of 145 runs, the West Indies Women will be eyeing their first win of the tour. However, chasing under lights in Chelmsford comes with its own challenges, and England’s formidable bowling unit led by Charlie Dean, Lauren Bell, and Sarah Glenn will be keen to wrap up a 3-0 whitewash.
The live win probability currently favors England at 77%, but a strong start by the West Indian openers could quickly turn the tide.
