Dani Wyatt inspires England to dominant win as West Indies regret missed chances

England Women posted their highest T20 total against West Indies in a dominant display at Northampton, even if captain Heather Knight was not deemed fit enough to field due to a hamstring concern

Northampton: England 180-6, West Indies 138-9 - England won by 42 runs

England Women eased past West Indies in the second T20 match of their series in a game defined by two very different fielding efforts.

After the first match of the three-match series at Northampton was washed out by rain, England won the toss and batted first on a night that would see Heather Knight’s side post their highest ever T20 total against West Indies and, indeed, their seventh-highest total of all time in the format.

The ever-improving and ever-impressive Dani Wyatt struck a 55-ball 81 that combined brutal force with a classy slight of touch, while there were contributions from Amy Jones and Nat Sciver, who made 37 and 31 respectively.

However, even as England muscled their way to 180 for six from their allotted overs, it was difficult not to think that much could have been different had Stafanie Taylor’s West Indian side showed any of the discipline in the field that took them to last year’s Women’s World T20 title.

As it was, though, the fielding effort was marred by a litany of amateurish mistakes, poor throws and frequent fumbles on a blameless outfield.

Both Jones and Wyatt found themselves the beneficiaries of the generosity of wicketkeeper Kycia Knight, with Wyatt dropped after Jones was fortunate not to be stumped. Other chances went down as the pair chanced their arm against a bowling attack serving up its fair share of scoring opportunities.

Even after Jones was finally bowled by Chinelle Henry – this seemed the only possible mode of dismissal at a time when run-out chances were missed with an alarming regularity, the onslaught continued.

Shortly afterwards, Tammy Beaumont chipped the excellent, though expensive, Afy Fletcher back to the leg-spinner, leaving Sciver and Wyatt to rebuild. The pair put on 56 in 34 deliveries before Sciver fell, leaving Knight, Katherine Brunt and Sarah Taylor – batting at seven – to swing and sweep to their hearts content as England dragged themselves to an imposing target. West Indies had only ever surpassed such a score four times – and never against England.

While the Caribbean side had been criticised during the one-day series for failing to express much gumption in response to England’s heavy scoring, they could not be faulted for their ambition during an ultimately fruitless chase.

^{Sarah Taylor took a sharp stumping off the bowling of Nat Sciver}

The highly-rated Hayley Matthews led the way, even if her own execution saw her dismissed by the left-arm spin of Linsey Smith early on. Matthews swung from the hip, only to be caught at short third man, at least making clear her side’s intentions. And while Britney Cooper was adjudged to be trapped in front of her stumps by a big in-ducker from Anya Shrubsole, Stacy-Ann King refused to be daunted. The left-hander attacked with almost reckless abandon.

But it made for a thrilling watch and, at times, she forced England to look as ragged as her own side had done earlier in the evening in the field. Amy Jones dropped a straightforward chance at deep square-leg, while missteps and fumbles briefly threatened to induce greater panic than was required with such a total on the board.

However, when Brunt ran out captain Taylor, a promising innings began to subside quickly. She had already, seemingly, been given a life by the third umpire after a desperately close run-out call went her way after some superb work from her namesake, Sarah Taylor.

Stafanie Taylor, having sprinted a quick single to the bowler’s end, dropped her bat as she went to ground it, just a fraction of a second before the wicketkeeper’s throw cannoned into her stumps. By the skin of her teeth, she was given the benefit of the doubt – though her stay was hardly prolonged in any case.

What followed was another bold partnership followed by an eventual procession. King’s daredevil knock was ended by a safe Wyatt catch, before Fran Wilson – on as a substitute for Knight, who felt a tightness in her hamstring – ran out the big-hitting Chedean Nation to end the game as a contest.

She had struck two sixes and four boundaries in a 20-ball knock until a miscommunication left her well short of her ground. There were further wickets for Brunt and a scalp each for Sciver and Sophie Ecclestone as England – without their captain – waltzed to a 42-run victory.