England women v West Indies women – 1st One-Day International Trelawny Stadium, Montego Bay, Jamaica
One-Day International debut for Sophie Ecclestone, cap number 124
England women won the toss and elected to bat
England women – 149 (Danielle Wyatt 44, Deandra Dottin 3-21)
49.1 overs
West Indies women – 144 (Katherine Brunt 3-24, Alex Hartley 3-26)
44.2 overs
England women won by 5 runs
Photo: © WICB Media/Athelstan Bellamy
Ecclestone and fellow spinners Alex Hartley and Laura Marsh took seven wickets between them and Katherine Brunt 3-24 as the hosts slumped to 100 for seven after earlier looking good on 53 without loss.
Shemaine Campbelle (24*) came close to getting her side over the line but Brunt took the final two wickets in two overs to bowl West Indies out for 144 in a game that was low on runs but high in drama.
Three wickets in four balls saw England move into the driving seat as Brunt dismissed dangerwoman Deandra Dottin and Hartley trapped Stafanie Taylor and Anisa Mohammed LBW with consecutive deliveries.
Marsh then dismissed Afy Fletcher before Brunt delivered the knockout blows to win the first game of the five-match series.
Openers Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield had gotten England off to a steady start earlier in the day, with the latter making the most of short balls from pace bowler Campbelle to register a couple of boundaries through mid-wicket.
Beaumont was the first wicket to fall, caught at extra-cover off Dottin, and all of a sudden England began to find themselves under pressure.
Dottin then bowled Georgia Elwiss for three and she was quickly followed by captain Heather Knight, who went first ball after a nick behind to wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira.
Winfield was bowled by off-spinner Fletcher for 24 and the visitors were struggling at 49 for four in tough, hot conditions on a pitch with a lot of turn.
Danni Wyatt came in to steady the ship and proceeded to rebuild the innings through her 45-run partnership with Amy Jones after Natalie Sciver was caught at mid-wicket for nine.
Wyatt went on to post a career-best 44 before hitting straight to Dottin at cover to leave the visitors on 133 for seven.
Brunt’s was the final England wicket, setting the stage for the eventual tight finish.
Following the match Danni Wyatt and Sophie Ecclestone spoke to ECB TV and you can see the interview here.
Report courtesy of the ECB
