England crush West Indies to seal T20 series win

Hove, second T20

West Indies 81-9 (20 overs): Arlott 3-14, Bell 3-28

England 82-1 (9.2 overs): Sciver-Brunt 55* (30)

England won the series by nine wickets and won it 2 for 2.

With a dominant nine-wicket thrashing of the West Indies at Hove, England remained unassailable with a 2-0 lead.

England came within 82 runs to reach their goal, with Sofia Dunkley scoring 24 not out and new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt unbeaten in 55 of 31 balls.

The only bright spot in another disappointing display from the visitors and a completely one-sided contest was Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who fell to the first ball of the innings.

West Indies struggled to contain England’s impressive discipline and aggression with the ball, falling to 29-4 before regaining it to 81-9.

In her second international start, Seamer Em Arlott finished with 3-14, including veteran batter Stafanie Taylor and Windies skipper Hayley Matthews for six.

From her four overs, pace bowler Lauren Bell took 3-28, and spinner Charlie Dean took a subpar 2-12.

Only eight boundaries were scored in their entire innings, which also included 74 dot balls, were Shemaine Campbelle and Shabika Gajnabi, the only two West Indies batters to achieve double figures, with 26 and 22 coming from them.

After a miserable winter, England’s seam attack under new head coach Charlotte Edwards appears to have rediscovered much-needed energy and life.

Bell continues to impress as the head of the attack and one of the few English players to win the Women’s Ashes with credit. With Qiana Joseph bowled for four in the opening over, she made the breakthrough.

In the opening game of the series against the Windies, Matthews recorded an unbeaten century in Canterbury, and a stunning lofted cover drive for four off Arlott made it seem as though she was moving forward, only for the seamer to remove the Windies captain’s leg stump the following ball.

England roared out in celebration of the dismissal, and the subsequent collapse demonstrated why.

West Indies were 30-4 after the six-over powerplay, with Zaida James superbly caught by a one-handed diving Dunkley at midwicket.

Campbelle and Gajnabi’s 34-ball fifth-wicket stand was just a waiting game, with Mandy Mangru being bowled next ball after Arlott had become frustrated with her 36-ball knock and being caught off Dean at long-on.

Sciver-Brunt’s captaincy era began with a victory in the first T20, but she also suffered a personal disappointment as a result. She handled the situation in this one in excellent style.

Sciver-Brunt reached her half-century from just 27 balls, her second-fastest total in T20 internationals, despite Wyatt-Hodge’s missed drifting delivery from James first ball.

She once more capitalized on a toothless West Indies attack by striking 10 fours all around the ground.

With 64 balls to go, England roared to victory in the second match thanks to Dunkley, who had a career-best 81 in the first one.

That is only enhanced by the 87 balls that Sciver-Brunt had to score in 2022, which included the winning runs.

“The camp has a great atmosphere, obviously.” A fantastic group of girls. They have welcomed me very warmly.

Nat Sciver-Brunt, England’s captain, said: “We set a pretty high standard for ourselves in the first game, and we probably surpassed that here.” It helps us to build up our spirits.

Hayley Matthews, captain of the West Indies, says, “It’s obviously a little disappointing. We were aware that some of our veteran campaigners, like Chinelle Henry and Deandra Dottin, would be taking a tough tour with us when we arrived.