Right then, we are done with this thriller! West Indies Women have registered their first-ever win over England Women in the 50-over World Cup and will be on cloud nine. Heather Knight tried to stay positive in her interview but she will be feeling the heat after losing two close games. The next match is going to be between New Zealand Women and India Women on the 10th of March at 6.30 am IST (1 am GMT). Both these teams recently played a bilateral series where the White Ferns won comprehensively. Will their dominance continue or can India Women avenge the series loss with an all-important win in the mega event? Do join us to find out. As usual, our build-up will begin in advance. Until then, it's goodbye and cheers!
Stafanie Taylor, the winning captain of West Indies Women, smiles and says that it's not something she likes (close games), it was nerve-wracking but she is happy they ended up on the winning side. Tells that they knew they had to bowl and field well. Mentions that it's important for the lower order to step up when the top order has not clicked. She is really impressed with the way Deandra Dottin took a spectacular catch at point and calls it her strength. Further adds that they try to give their best on the field and focus on the areas to improve, regardless of the opposition they are facing.
Heather Knight, the captain of England Women, says that West Indies Women batted outstandingly on a good wicket. Praises the way the English team crawled back with the ball but then they struggled to break the stand between Shemaine Campbelle and Chedean Nation. Feels that the last 10 overs cost them in the last match and the last 6-7 overs probably cost them in this match. Adds that there are a lot of things in their control that they can do better. Tells that they got to be better and she is not too worried about the two losses. Shares that it was a good wicket and they lost wickets in a cluster which eventually cost them. She wants to be more clinical with the execution of their plans. Praises Sophie Ecclestone for her knock and calls it unlucky that she failed to take the team over the line.
Shemaine Campbelle is the Player of the Match! She starts by saying that there was some pressure when she went out to bat. Tells that she tried to build a partnership and played every ball on its merit. Mentions that for them it was a matter of spending time in the middle and they knew if they do that, runs would come. On his partnership with Chedean Nation, Shemaine Campbelle replies that it was a good one and they both are quick between the wickets. Further praises her team for the work they did in the field. Adds that they took a few fantastic catches as well and did well to hold their nerves towards the end. She wants to stay focused for the coming challenge.
Presentation time...
Where did England Women lose the match? Well, it's the batting failure that has cost this game. No two ways about it. That said, after making a resounding comeback with the ball, post Powerplay 1, they allowed a century partnership to develop in the middle overs. West Indies Women recovered and posted 225 on the board that many considered to be challenging. It turned out that way as the reigning champions fell short by 7 runs. Not to forget the number of catches that went down in this match. Both teams were equally clumsy but it has cost England Women more in the end.
It was quite a straightforward chase for England Women but they never got going. Due to the fall of wickets at regular intervals, they failed to get any momentum. It was the stand between Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt that offered them some hope but after a brief resistance, the English team lost 3 wickets in the span of 6 balls. That pushed them off the track completely and the writing was on the wall. Just when it appeared that they will fold out tamely, Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross combined for a 61-run and nearly emerged as the unlikely saviours for the defending champions. But it was not meant to be. West Indies Women held their nerves and grabbed the two wickets late to hand England Women yet another close defeat.
Deandra Dottin in the last match, Anisa Mohammed in this one, West Indies Women are picking their heroes for every game! Yet another spirited show from them and they have taken down the defending champions. By achieving two wins against two of the favourites to win this tournament, West Indies have not just gained confidence but also a position for themselves on the table that can help them in securing a safe passage to the next round. We know it's too early to say that but they have passed a couple of litmus tests and living up to the tag of being a dark horse to win this edition.
In over# 48
0W
0
1
0W
Anisa Mohammed 24/2(4.4)
47.4
W
OUT! TIMBER! West Indies Women have pulled off a stunner and the Windies are pumped up here in Dunedin. Anisa Mohammed with her go-to-ball, a floated one, very full and around middle, Anya Shrubsole comes down the track and tries to flick it but she misses and the ball sneaks past her bat to disturb the stumps. West Indies Women win this nail-biter by 7 runs and Anisa Mohammed is running in celebration.
47.3
.
Tossed up, fuller and on off. Anya Shrubsole skips down and defends with her bat and pad together.
47.2
1
Fuller and around off, Sophie Ecclestone drills it down to long off for a run. 8 needed! In case of a tie, we will have a Super Over!
Anya Shrubsole is the last batter. 9 needed off 17 balls with one wicket in hand. This match is going down to the wire.
47.1
W
OUT! RUN OUT! There is another twist in this game! What a game this is turning out to be! A floated full ball, on middle, Sophie Ecclestone comes down the track and smashes it back to Anisa Mohammed who tries to grab the ball to her right but fails. However, she gets a touch and the ball goes on to strike the stumps at the non-striker's end. Kate Cross looked out of her crease but it is still taken upstairs. The replays show that Kate Cross is well short. West Indies Women need one wicket and England Women need 9 runs.
Appeal for a run out at the bowler's end. Anisa has got fingertips behind the ball and Kate Cross is late in getting her bat inside the crease.
Anisa Mohammed is back on.
In over# 47
1
1
1
0
1
0
1wd
Shakera Selman 24/0(6)
46.6
1
Singles will do for England Women! A full ball, on middle, Sophie Ecclestone flicks it aerially and over Hayley Matthews at mid-wicket, who leaps up and perhaps gets fingertips to it. Good attempt though. 9 runs needed now in 18 balls.
46.5
1
Pitches it up, on off, Cross hits it to long on for one more.