England vs West Indies LIVE: Latest score and updates from Women’s T20 World Cup
Both teams can still qualify for the the knockout rounds making this a crucial group stage clash
England are hoping to secure a place in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals when they face the West Indies in Dubai this afternoon.
Heather Knight’s team are unbeaten so far with three wins from three including a 10-wicket hammering of Scotland in their last outing on Sunday. They sit top of the table with a healthy net run rate but know that defeat today will leave them vulnerable to an early exit from the tournament.
For their part, the West Indies reignited their campaign with an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh. They chased down a total of 104 with 43 balls remaining meaning they boosted their own net run rate to +1.708. The result of that means a win over England would be enough to send them through to the next round.
This match is effectively a quarter-final tie and England will be determined to continue their winning run and join Australia and New Zealand in the final four.
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West Indies 44-0 (4), Matthews 17, Joseph 27, Ecclestone 0-8 (1) - target 142
Nat Sciver-Brunt, captaining England due to Heather Knight’s injury, will not have wanted to go to Sophie Ecclestone so soon but she needs to do something.
Ecclestone is England’s best bowler and needs to stop the runs. She can’t.
Joseph is quick onto a sweep shot and finds the gap at square leg, powering the ball to the boundary for four runs. She then goes over the top, closer to midwicket and there’s no fielders out there. It’s back-to-back boundaries for the opener.
West Indies 36-0 (3), Matthews 17, Joseph 19, Dean 0-10 (1) - target 142
Charlie Dean replaces Lauren Bell for England and takes the pace off the ball. She forces a play-and-miss out of Matthews before the West Indies captain flicks an aerial shot short of the deep mid-on fielder.
Six! Qiana Joseph stands still and unleashes on a powerful slog to the legside which clears the ropes with ease.
England can’t stop the runs from flowing. 10 more come from that over. The Windies are flying.
West Indies 26-0 (2), Matthews 15, Joseph 11, Sciver-Brunt 0-12 (1) - target 142
Oh wow.
Nat Sciver-Brunt starts off the second over with a decent delivery and finds the edge of Qiana Joseph’s bat. The ball splits the field though and races away for four runs.
Joseph goes for the same shot again and lifts one over the in field before hurrying through for two runs.
Dropped! Sciver-Brunt draws an aggressive shot out of Joseph who picks out Sophia Dunkley on the midwicket boundary. The substitute fielder spills the ball and watches it bounce over the ropes for four.
This is an onslaught from the West Indies and England are leaking runs here. 12 runs come from this one.
West Indies 14-0 (1), Matthews 14, Joseph 0, Bell 0-14 (1) - target 142
Lauren Bell will look to shape the ball into the right-handers but has enough skill to move the ball away from them. After letting the first delivery go, Hayley Matthews goes after the second one and pulls it over the ropes for six!
What a start. And it gets even better as Bell drifts down the legside allowing Matthews to pull her away for four more.
The West Indies captain isn’t finshed there. She plays a big drive off the final ball and goes over the fielder at mid-off picking up a third boundary.
14 runs come from the opening over. An expensive one for England.
West Indies 0-0 (0), Matthews 0, Joseph 0, Bell 0-0 (0) - target 142
Word has come through that South Africa have secured a spot in the semi-finals as England’s net rate will drop below theirs if they lose this game.
That means it’s a straight shootout between these two teams to see who will round out the final four.
Lauren Bell is opening up for England.
England set target of 142 to win
Nat Sciver-Brunt anchored the England innings perfectly with a well composed half-century. She guided England up to 141-7 and now they have a decent total to defend.
The West Indies have plenty of aggressive batters though so England will need to bowl well.
England 141-7 (20), Glenn 1, Sciver-Brunt 57, Matthews 2-35 (4)
Nat Sciver-Brunt goes over the top and hits four from the second last delivery of the innings. The final ball is a scrambled leg bye and England finish with a score of 141.
They would probably have taken that at the start of the day.
Wicket! Sophie Ecclestone 7 (4) ct. Dottin b. Matthews - England 135-7 (19.3)
Ecclestone goes for it again and picks out Deandra Dottin on the boundary!
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