DUNEDIN: Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin again were at the centre of the action as the West Indies pulled off a dramatic upset win at the Women’s Cricket World Cup on Wednesday, beating defending champions England by seven runs at Dunedin.

The West Indies edged hosts New Zealand by three runs in their opening match on Sunday with Matthews making 119 and Dottin bowling a thrilling final over in which three wickets fell.

On Wednesday, Matthews made 45 and Dottin 31 in an 81-run opening partnership which set the West Indies on course to 225-6 as they batted first on winning the toss. Matthews then took 2-40 as England were bowled out for 218 in 47.4 overs, falling just short in a run chase for the second match in a row.

In their first match England fell only 12 runs short as they chased Australia’s mammoth 310-3. While the West Indies have moved up to second place behind Australia in the tournament, England now are winless after two matches and in desperate need of a win when they next play South Africa.

England seemed to be heading towards a victory on Wednesday when Sophie Eccleston and Kate Cross combined in a 61-run partnership for the ninth wicket. At the start of the 48th over, England were 217-8 and needed only nine runs to win with 18 balls remaining.

But Cross was cruelly run out while backing up at the non-strikers end and Anya Shrubsole, coming in at number 11, was bowled two balls later by Anisa Mohammed as the West Indies again secured victory in a dramatic final over.

“This isn’t something that I like. Its a bit nerve-wracking for me,” West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor said. “But it’s pleasing that we turned out on the good side.

“For us, we try our very best every time we go out to play. We try to play our best game and that’s what the coaches tell us.”

It was Dottin who once again provided what may be the longest-lasting memory of the match, a breathtaking catch at backward point to dismiss England opener Lauren Winfield-Hill for 12. Winfield-Hill cut a ball from Shamilia Connell hard and wide of the fielder but Dottin dived full length and clasped the ball one-handed at shoulder height.

The catch was one of the high-points of a see-sawing match in which both teams played themselves into strong positions, suffered setbacks and rallied again.

The West Indies were on course for a higher total than they achieved when Dottin and Matthews guided them to 81-1 after the 20th over. But Ecclestone bowled the 21st over in which three wickets fell, including those of Dottin and Matthews.

The cascade of wickets changed the tenor of the match, even more when Kycia Knight was out soon after hitting for six, leaving the West Indies at 98-4.

Shemaine Campbelle and Chedean Nation led the recovery with a superb partnership of 123 for the fifth wicket in which Campbelle made 66 and Nation 49 not out.

England, in turn, were in trouble after the loss of Winfield-Hill, then captain Heather Knight (5) and Nat Sciver (2), both of whom fell to Matthews. Sciver made an unbeaten 109 from 79 balls as England fell 12 runs short of Australia in their opening match.

England were 94-5 when Tammy Beaumont was out for 46 in the 26th over but Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley came to their rescue with a partnership of 60 for the sixth wicket.

Just as the match had begun to turn in England’s favor, Dunkley was out for 38 and Wyatt for 33 within the space of three balls, leaving England 156-8. Ecclestone and Cross then took England within sight of victory again but their chase unraveled in the final over.

”They batted outstandingly at us on a good wicket and played some brilliant shots,” said Knight.

“We felt like we were in a good position but I guess the last 10 overs cost us.”

Brief scores:

WEST INDIES 225-6 in 50 overs (S. Campbell 66, C. Nation 49 not out, H. Matthews 45; S. Ecclestone 3-20); ENGLAND 218 in 47.4 overs (T. Beaumont 46, S. Dunkley 38, D. Wyatt 33, S. Ecclestone 33; S. Connell 3-38).

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2022