Dominant England seal series win over West Indies

Leicester’s second ODI

England 366-6 (50 overs): Jones 129 (98), Beaumont 106 (109)

West Indies 223 (45.4 overs): Grimmond 53 (72), Capsey 3-41

England defeated 143 runs to win the three-match series 2-0.

In the second one-day international in Leicester, England defeated West Indies by 143 runs to set up Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont’s second successive centuries.

Jones hit a stunning 129 from 98 balls after dropping 43 in her first international debut, while Beaumont hit 106 in England’s imposing 366-6.

After posting a 222 in the opener, the pair added 202 in 29 overs, before Emma Lamb’s 55 and Sophia Dunkley’s 31 from 19 balls capped yet another utterly dominant batting performance.

The tourists fought back to 223 all out in 45.4 overs in a match that was made even more lonesome by the absence of Windies skipper Hayley Matthews due to a shoulder injury.

Realeanna Grimmond, who made her ODI debut, had a spirited 53 from 72 balls with two sixes, and Jannillea Glasgow, who had an entertaining 44 from 24, but the outcome was a foregone conclusion because of the gulf between the two teams.

England’s bowling attack struggled to find breakthroughs in the middle overs as they struggled to overcome West Indies’ lack of attacking intent, with Alice Capsey finishing with 3-41 and Linsey Smith and Lauren Filer both taking two wickets each.

Although Edwards’ decision to reinstate Jones at the top of the order initially sparked some unease, it has turned out to be a masterstroke.

She threw two fours at Zaida James before leaving without looking back. The two actors previously played opposite roles, with Beaumont moving through the gears with a little more caution while Jones repeatedly hit the accelerator.

Jones showed signs of nerves at Derby, where she had lost chances in 91 and 92, but she now oozed confidence right off the bat.

Beaumont scored a fifty from 64 before she kicked on to reach three figures from 106 balls with a six that sent sailing over long-on, making England’s joint-third fastest in women’s ODIs.

The hosts relentlessly punished West Indies’ inexperienced bowling attack, which struggled to build any consistency or dot ball pressure throughout. This was the first time an opening pair hit back-to-back scores in the history of the format, both men’s and women’s.

In the first 10 overs, Jones’ chances should have been taken by Grimmond at cover, and the bowling skewed both sides of the wicket.

After being eventually dismissed by spinner Karishma Ramharack, England had established a record-setting 378-run lead, before Grimmond, who had a spectacular one-handed catch, delivered the tourists’ highlight as England accelerated to the final five overs.

There will undoubtedly be more difficult tests to come for England’s new opening pair and for number three Lamb, who made a 41-ball fifty, despite the confidence that will come from posting 346 and 366 consecutive games.

From the moment Matthews’ omission was announced at the toss, the situation resembled that of a woman scurrying around the Leicester boundary while wearing a coat and a bobble hat and chatting to the fielders in what was likely an attempt to offer much-needed encouragement or advice.

With her explosive opening partner Qiana Joseph also absent, and the experienced duo of Deandra Dottin and Chinelle Henry completely missing, their batting effort did little to lessen the concern.

There was little else on which England could base its bowling on other than the exceptional short ball, which was particularly impressive when she whacked Lauren Bell for two powerful sixes over the leg side.

England did not bowl well, but considering their superiority in every way, they should have bowled the West Indies out despite them only scoring one shot in disbelief at halfway.

Filer bowled at a lively pace, reaching 77 mph, and was unfazed by his untimely injury return. When she hit the target, she slammed through Jahzara Claxton’s defenses for 18 and Afy Fletcher’s for eight in a matter of one over, putting England on the verge of victory.

We wanted to “bowl into good areas” before starting. Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way we wanted, and we worked hard to do it.

Amy Jones, the player of the match: “It’s quite funny how it’s turned out after a lot of games. I enjoyed today and think it’s cool to work with Tammy Beaumont.

You must rely on your luck to open a business. I did that today, but I’m pleased to have her run around.

On BBC Test Match Special, former England captain Alex Hartley reflects, “It’s encouraging to see that the future is bright and that there is competition for the spots.

You once had a sense of who would be playing every game. It could also change at any time.