Key events
3rd over: England 21-0 (Bouchier 11, Wyatt-Hodge 9) Again, Bouchier goes for a big shot and again she slices it, this time to backward point, but this time the ball drops safe and the batters run two. A single follows, then Wyatt-Hodge hoiks behind the wicket on the off-side for two more; I said earlier I thought England would take care not to get into trouble seeking a score that’s larger than necessary but I was wrong and, as I type, Bouchier retreats to hump Henry over mid on for four. Ten off the over and England are moving.
2nd over: England 11-0 (Bouchier 4, Wyatt-Hodge 6) It’s Zaida James opening from t’other end, once Matthews has rejigged the field a little; there’s a really good energy about her, and her team look alive. Wyatt-Hodge then bumps a single to long on, then Bouchier comes down and tries a drive only to slice her shot and the ball’s falling nicely for Munisar at cover-point – she missed the run-out opportunity in the first over – to dive forward and complete a redemptive snaffle. BUT SHE GRASSES IT! Dearie me, that is going to sting because it wasn’t a difficult chance, and a single to Bouchier followed by two twos to Wyatt-Hodge won’t have her feeling any the less extremely, horrifically, soul-curdlingly poorly.
1st over: England 4-0 (Bouchier 3, Wyatt-Hodge 1) Bouchier puts bat on each of the first two deliveries but picks out fielders, then forces to mid-on and sets off for a KP-style Red-Bull single … making her ground, just. If the diving underarm shy had hit, she’d have been gone. But she’s not, so when Wyatt-Hodge hauls her second ball around the corner for one, she’s back on strike to pick a yorker off her toes and turn to midwicket for two. Solid enough start from both sides.
Chienlle Henry has the ball, and here we go!
Out come the fielders … and here come England’s openers.
Heather Knight is absolutely buzzing, grinning with eyes shining. She can’t wait, and I daresay you’d feel pretty decent about life trotting out behind her.
Anthem time. How much better would this be if West Indies was reggae or dancehall and England’s was jungle or grime?
England’s openers are both in nick, having knocked off the 110 needed to beat Scotland in 10 overs. This, though, is a very different affair, on a very different track. And here come our teams!
Oh man, I cannot wait for this. Gerronwidit!
West Indies will be concerned that Taylor isn’t fit. Not only does he have the firepower to settle this match, but she also has the experience and composure required to excel in an effective knockout tie. That increases the pressure on Matthews, Campbell and Dottin, but it feels like these matchers are as often settled by someone surprising than by one of the big guns.
I know Knight was pretty coy about her desire to bowl first, but this is definitely the kind of pitch on which it helps to chase, using the opposition to deduce what constitutes a par total. It’s hard to force the pace on a track likely to be slow, but England won’t want to run out of wickets seeking a higher target than necessary, and my sense is that they take care, knowing they’ve the spinners to twirl them home if that’s what this takes.
Teams!
England: Maia Bouchier, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (capt), Amy Jones (wk), Danielle Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell
West Indies: Hayley Matthews (capt), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Zaida James, Ashmini Munisar, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack
West Indies also make two changes, but Matthews can only recall that Taylor drops out with Chedean Nation coming in.
Heather Knight would also have fielded, but says the pitch looks OK and she’s happy to bat first. England make one change, the now-healthy Alice Capsey replacing Sophia Dunkley. Thus it’s Bell not Smith completing their attack.
West Indies win the toss and field
Hayley Matthews says her side have been successful doing that in the tournament and this year.
Waiting in the semis: Australia will face the runners-up in the group – SA if England win and Windies if Windies win– with the group winners, England if England win and otherwise SA – must take on Australia.
In an attempt so not to do, I am now chugging green juice: kale, blueberries, ginger, carrots, turmeric. Welcome to middle age, population: me.
A further question: do I have the willpower not to guzzle the Tony’s Chocolonely my daughter thinks she’s hidden for herself?
I said below that only one of these two sides can progress, but that’s not strictly true. If West Indies win, they and England qualify ahead of South Africa if:
-
They lose by one run and West Indies’ first-innings total is between 87 and 134.
-
They lose by two runs chasing between 61 and 96.
-
They bat first and West Indies win with one or two balls to spare.
Gorrit?
A question: who will England pick today, Linsey Smith or Lauren Bell? It was Smith in the first two matches and she returned 2-11 then 1-32, while Bell delivered 1-16 when given the call at the weekend. My sense is that Smith will prevail, but I’d go for Bell; it’s a pretty nice choice to have.
Just finished for the day:
Preamble
How often have we found ourselves watching a World Cup grumbling about the lack of jeopardy? Well, welcome to the opposite of that.
England have won all three of their matches so far, beating South Africa – the next-best side in the group – and Bangladesh pretty handily, before devastating Scotland. And yet, thanks to the vagaries of net run-rate, if they lose today, it’ll be West Indies – devastated by South Africa before handily beating Scotland and Bangladesh – who move into the last four.
And make no mistake, Hayley Matthews’ team are more than capable of making that happen – especially on a surface likely to be slow. Matthews, Stafanie Taylor – if fit – Shemaine Campabelle and the returned Deandra Dottin all have the power to defeat the track and outfield and, more generally, the nature of T20 cricket allows for one player to have a day out and decide a match. West Indies are a live dog and then some.
England, though, are bouncing. With the bat, they have numerous talents able to deliver transcendent performances while, with the ball Sophie Ecclestone is bowling so well it’s almost unfair – and the rest of the attack isn’t bad either.
All of which sets up what should be a terrific match – and in the event of a tie, progress will be determined by which team can name more foods that start with the letter “Q”.
