Match report
Righto, that was one of the stranger OBOs I’ve been involved in. Congratulations to England, they got the job done despite the apocalyptic weather in Taunton. Time for me to depart, thanks for sticking with us, goodnight!
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt:
It has rained a few times in Taunton... a great way to finish the series. We wanted to have a bit more opportunity in the middle but bowling first and the rain didn’t help that. We’re looking at different combinations and trying things out. We have to gather information or we won’t be able to explore our options as we get nearer to the World Cup.”
West Indies captain Shermaine Campbelle:
We have to keep switching on and executing better… we have to spend some time at the crease. Alliyah (Alleyne) put on a showcase, credit to her for her innings. There’s a lot of young girls stepping up and making improvements. We’re a work in progress.”
Updated
Sarah Glenn (3-21) is Player of the Match
It was a long day! Everyone did well to get the focus back on. There’s pressure when you come in to make an impact. I stayed in the present and was on when I needed to be on. It’s healthy, seeing the development of the counties and the competition for places.”
Dual century maker Amy Jones is Player of the Series
It exceeded my expectations! A lot of fun batting at the top of the order and getting the win today. I knew opening was an option but not set in stone. Good to bat with Tammy (Beaumont) her strengths are recognising the situation, she’s good at reining it in and getting through the tricky patches.”
Updated
A 6-0 start to the Charlotte Edwards and Nat Sciver-Brunt era shows plenty of green shoots for England. They’ve shown much improvement on the winter of discontent and look to be getting some of their swagger back. India lie in wait and should provide a sterner Test for the rest of the summer.
Nat Sciver-Brunt finishes unbeaten on 57 off 34 balls. Alice Capsey (20) and Sophia Dunkley (26) hit sparky cameos as England made short work of their DRS adjusted target. West Indies had the worst of the conditions and dearly misses their injured captain and stalwart Hayley Matthews in the fifty over stuff.
England win by 9 wickets (with 61 balls remaining)
Nat Sciver-Brunt goes ganbusters and Kabblamoes her way to fifty with three boundaries off Munisar! AND THAT’S THE WIN! A dismissive pull for four sees England clinch this -quite bonkers- shortened match. They take the ODI series 3-0 to go with a 3-0 win in the T20 series. They were clinical in the short time they were actually on the field today.
10th over: England 94-1 (Sciver-Brunt 43, Capsey 19) Sciver-Brunt slams two boundaries down the ground! A forlorn Ramharack is clipped for two off a full toss and two more through midwicket. Four! Sciver-Brunt finishing with a flourish – a stylish sweep to end the over – sixteen runs off it and England on the brink of victory.
9th over: England 78-1 (Sciver-Brunt 27, Capsey 19) Ashmini Munisar summoned to send down some twirlers. NSB picks up a brace through square leg. Capsey sweeps hard for four, she’s looked determined and in good touch since arriving in the middle. Capsey nudges a single to get her captain on strike. Bosh! NSB pings a drive to the cover boundary. Impressive stuff from England, they need just 29 more to take the series 3-0.
8th over: England 65-1 (Sciver-Brunt 19, Capsey 14) Ramharack almost scuds one under NSB but the batter digs it out at the final second. Nine off the over as Capsey carves a wider ball through the off side for four. England need 42 from plenty (78).
7th over: England 56-1 (Sciver-Brunt 17, Capsey 7) Claxton continues and is mashed through the covers by the England skipper! Two more through an open faced guide from Sciver-Brunt. Fifty up for England for just the loss of Dunkers. Ten off the over as West Indies struggle to stop the flow of runs with the pressure on.
6th over: England 46-1 (Sciver-Brunt 10, Capsey 5) Alice Capsey in at first drop – she sweeps fine and picks up three to open her account. She then ramps over her shoulder for two more. A wicket and six runs off it – England need 61 from 90 balls.
WICKET! Sophia Dunkley lbw b Ramharack 26 (England 40-1)
West Indies needed that! Ramharack into the attack and pins Dunkley in front of middle stump!
5th over: England 40-0 (Sciver-Brunt 9, Dunkley 26) Jahzara Claxton into the attack and she has a bit of a shocker – shonking down three wides and then a full toss that Dunkley slaps through square for four. Ten in total off the over. England cruising, they need 67 from 96 balls.
4th over: England 30-0 (Sciver-Brunt 7, Dunkley 21) Nat Sciver-Brunt gets in on the action and swipes Glasgow over midwicket for four. Seven off the over and shortened powerplay done. England ticking along nicely, no sign of the wet stuff… yet!
3rd over: England 23-0 (Sciver-Brunt 2, Dunkley 19) Dunkley slashes for four more through point. She’s in a hurry. James is worked around for singles and spears in another wide. Eight off the over for England, they want to do this before any more rain arrives and kiboshes the whole thing.
2nd over: England 15-0 (Sciver-Brunt 1, Dunkley 13) Dunkley continues her good form and bunts a Jannillea Glasgow full toss down the ground for four. Three more singles keep England ticking. This has been harum-scarum stuff since the restart, for both sides.
England need 92 from 19 overs.
1st over: England 8-0 (Sciver-Brunt 0, Dunkley 7) Brisk start for England as Dunkley drives for four through the covers and then picks up three more runs to go with a Zaida James wide. Where’s your money?
Here come England – Their target is indeed 106 runs, work that out?
West Indies make 106-8 off their 21 overs
Well that was fun/bonkers. West Indies somehow got themselves over the hundred mark despite regularly losing wickets. We await to see what the England target will be.
Aaliyah Alleyne blitzed 27 off 18 balls before falling as she lived off the final ball of the over. The chase is on for England (once they know the actual target).
Updated
Hello Jahzara Claxton! The new batter swipes over midwicket for SIX after pounding her first ball for four over cover. West Indies making a game of this!
WICKET! Qiana Joseph c Dunkley b Glenn 34 (West Indies 95-7)
Joseph holes out to Dunkley in the deep but West Indies keep swiping…
20 overs: West Indies 95-6 (Joseph 34, Alleyne 27) WHAT AN OVER from Alleyne! She swats Lauren Filer away for five consecutive fours to plunder 20 runs off the over and keep West Indies alive! It wasn’t pretty, plenty of meaty edges in and amongst some lusty blows but Filer looked all at sea by the end of the barrage.
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19 overs: West Indies 75-6 (Joseph 34, Alleyne 7) Alleyne edges away for four through third. West Indies will take anything they can at this stage. Two more overs for England to reel off.
18 overs: West Indies 67-6 (Joseph 32, Alleyne 1) Charlie Dean back and she’s pumped for four by Joseph. Three more scampered makes it seven off the over, not enough for West Indies you’d reckon.
17 overs: West Indies 60-6 (Joseph 28, Alleyne 1) Sarah Glenn whistles through an over at warp speed, Alleyne can’t get her away and it is just one run off the over.
16 overs: West Indies 59-6 (Joseph 28, Alleyne 1 ) Aaliyah Alleyne is the new batter. She nearly perishes to a leading edge first ball but it lands just short of Nat Sciver-Brunt. All ‘appening out there after five hours of diddly squat.
WICKET! Jannillea Glasgow c Davidson-Richards b Filer 6 (West Indies 58-6)
West Indies lose another! Glasgow pouched at mid-off going for another heave.
Kate Cross can’t get back quick enough and catch a Glasgow hack into the off side. The next ball rubs salt into the wound – Glasgow bludgeoning over the covers for four!
15 overs: West Indies 54-5 (Joseph 25, Glasgow 5) Shot! Glasgow late cuts Dean for four and a very welcome boundary. Two singles and a leg bye make it seven off the over. Lauren Filer is going to have a bowl.
14 overs: West Indies 47-5 (Joseph 23, Glasgow 1) Glenn beats new batter Janillea Glasgow with a beauty outside off stump! It looks tough to bat out there, England won’t want to chase many. Weather holding for now, wickets aren’t.
WICKET! Gajnabi b Glenn (West Indies 46-5)
Bowled her! Straight through the gate, this is turning into a day to forget for West Indies.
13 overs: West Indies 45-4 (Joseph 22, Gajnabi 1) Dean finishes her over five-hour-over and England turn to Sarah Glenn. West Indies need to put a score on then board but also stop losing wickets. Simple.
WICKET! Shemaine Campbelle st Jones b Dean 18 (West Indies 43-4)
First ball back… and it’s a wicket. Oh to be Shemaine Campbelle – sat watching the rain for half a day and then gets out first ball upon getting back on the park. She ambles past a flighted ball from Dean and Amy Jones whips off the bails!
England will have 8.3 overs left to bowl, Charlie Dean has ball in hand… PLAY!
Here come the players! The skies look brooding but we are going to have some cricket. I cannae believe my eyes. After a five hour gap we are back on!
Play to start at 5pm!
The rain has relented in Taunton so we could still, inexplicably, get some sort of game in. Play will start in ten minutes if the skies hold firm.
If we do get underway then West Indies will resume on 43-3 and will have another 8.3 overs to bat. Shemaine Campbelle (18) from and Qiana Joseph (21) will resume in the middle for West Indies and England will chase a re-calculated target. Some sort of hodge-podge between DLS and witchcraft…
Updated
Updated playing regs:
If we do get on the park (BIG IF) it will be a 21-overs-a-side game.
One bowlers can bowl five overs, four can bowl four overs
Powerplay of 4 overs
A ten min interval and 5.34pm restart for England’s chase…
Play will restart at 5pm… if there’s no further rain.
About that… the radar is horrendous. I’m not holding my breath or putting away my scuba gear.
Umpire Sue Redfern right now:
Updated
As the rain falls and we await news… why not dig into this interview I did the other day with the owner of the biggest biceps in world cricket – T20 superstar Andre Russell:
There’s another inspection currently taking place, half an hour after the last one and it’s still raining. It’s all getting a bit farcical in Taunton.
Rainy day reading – The Don interviews Temba Bavuma:
In the quintessentially English surroundings of Arundel, the 5ft 3in Bavuma looks as if he has gone back to being a kid in the dusty townships. “In Langa we had a four-way street,” he says, his face crinkling with the memories. “On the right-hand side of the street the tar wasn’t done so nicely and we used to call it Karachi because the ball would bounce funny. The other side was the MCG [Melbourne Cricket Ground] but my favourite section of the street was clean, and done up nicely, and we called it Lord’s because it just looked better. So, as a kid of 10, I already had that dream of playing at Lord’s.”
It’s still raining in Taunton after a brief period where it wasn’t. The umpires scurried off with their umbrellas but we haven’t had any official word yet. The radar is rank. Stick a fork in it people!
The umpires have carried out their inspection in Taunton. We await their thumb…
Much to Gustave Caillebotte’s chagrin, probably, it is currently fine in Paris. If you’d like to follow some live sport then John Brewin is on the tools for the French Open final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.
There will be an inspection at 3.10pm… Umpire Sue Redfern was seen chatting to both captains a few moments ago. It doesn’t look too heavy at the moment but as I often say to my supposedly potty trained daughter - ‘those are some ominous looking wet patches’ (dotted across the Taunton playing surface).
Here’s a fistful of straws to be clutched:
Sunny days where have you gone?
There are puddles on the outfield at Taunton, the rain isn’t due to relent for another couple of hours… If I was to bet my own hard earned* cash I’d say they might call this off at some point in the next hour or so, especially given the radar is grimmer than the Brothers Grimm on the Grim Reaper’s stag do on a grey day in Grimsby. Still, it’s cricket, so you never know. I’ll bring you any news as we get it.
*Behave.
Thanks Tanya. Hello all. Sorry for those fibs I told when I was seventeen…
An all-important pudding update from Taunton. “Lemon and chocolate tarts have just arrived in the press box. I can’t eat them because they are vegan and made with soy butter… but fortunately a stop-off at Morrisons for white chocolate cookies before play saved the day.”
While Raf tucks into her biscuit bounty, I’m going to hand over to Jim Wallace to guide you through the rest of the weather day. Thanks for your messages – bye!
“Should we stay or should we go?” asks Rupert Evelyn. “I’m sheltering with my daughter Eliza and her friend Seren next to the County Ground home of Brian the Cat. Should we stay or should we go now…. When write the cut off is at 5:11 what does that mean exactly?”
What a shame. The cut off means that any time after 5.11 and it will be too late to fit in a “meaningful” match. I think much depends on how soggy it is all looking already – what’s the puddle count like?
A sobering read on the tragedy that followed RCB’s IPL win:
📢 New essay. Debut piece for @newslaundry.
— Sarthak Dev (@devellix) June 7, 2025
In the last couple of days, I spoke to fans, audience, and cops to piece together the events from June 3rd and 4th. A city's moment of catharsis turned into catastrophe. It shouldn't have.
Read, share, hydrate.https://t.co/8HwWBEQc6Q
Still raining. “The press box have taken lunch but don’t know about anyone else! “says Raf. “We are enjoying a very nice Thai red chicken curry.” The cut off for this match is 5.11pm – the minimum over requirement is 20 overs each.
Umbrellas up
In case you’re late to this – it has been, and is currently, raining.
And a fascinating snipped from Heather Knight, still chatting with Nick Knight. Her trickiest bowling opponent? “Poonan and her pace- off leg-spin from about four foot.”
Updated
“If I may make a slight correction to John Starbuck’s earlier correction,” writes a brave Ant Pease “you were right first time; the proper spelling is Jaffer. It’s the noun meaning “One who jaffs”. The verb to jaff appears to come from the High German Jaffen, and was probably brought over with the Saxons. To jaff is defined loosely as to exceed one’s expectations in either physical or grammatical endeavour.
“With that in mind, may I be the first to commiserate Mr Starbuck on his jaffa jaffer jibber jabber.”
I am dusting my hands down in readiness for this OBO altercation.
Nick Knight – hair as full and coiffed as it ever was - is interviewing Heather Knight as the rain falls. They mull over England’s 50-over World Cup final win in 2017. “I had food poisoning, I didn’t get to enjoy the celebrations. I got recognised a little bit more, I was in the gym the next week and someone tried to chat to me when I was in a towel – very surreal. I don’t think cricket in this country changed that much immediately, it was a little bit slow, but I think it did change attitudes and meant the ECB took women’s cricket seriously, to see the value that women’s cricket could bring.”
A really cracking piece by Barney – much empathy from here for freelancer Bashir.
This summer’s tour by India Women doesn’t include a Test -just three ODIs and five T20s. It’s a real shame. I think there is an appetite for international red-ball cricket from both players and supporters and the last few women’s Tests I’ve watched have been fascinating. However, the first women’s Test at Lord’s – to be held next year - will be between England and India.
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Wet watch
The satellite does not paint a pretty picture. Nailed on rain for the next hour – 75 per cent nailed on rain by 4pm.
Updated
“Hello again, Tanya,” hello John Starbuck.
“As play is currently in abeyance, it’s time for me to send the OBO scribe a spelling correction. It should not be ‘jaffer’ but ‘jaffa’. This being because, back in the day, a reddish/orange sphere most resembled an orange in size as well as colour (ish) but at the time most of those available to Britons were Spanish oranges. A jaffa, on the other hand, was grown in the Middle East from Jaffa but hard to come by, so therefore rare. It was also a good deal sweeter than th Spanish versions, and thus became the non-pareil, so applied to an excellent delivery. Eventually, the South African oranges became established in the UK (remember the cinema Outspan adverts?) and their larger, brasher versions took over.
Here endeth the Lesson.”
Why thank you! I shall correct and (try to) remember.
Rain, rain, rain
Raf: “It’s brightened a bit, but umbrellas are still up around the ground. There was meant to be an inspection at 12.45 but then it rained again…”
Hello Ant Pease!
“The good thing about Em Arlott’s grimace after her first wicket is its versatility, for example:
Q: So, how’s the weather looking in Taunton?”
This is a very funny email but unfortunately I can’t access the attached photo of Arlott’s face. So you’ll have to use your imagination.
The rain continues to fall – I’m just going to make a coffee, back shortly.
Liam Dawson's second coming
Liam Dawson’s four for 20 last night against West Indies men put the icing on the cake of his unexpected England recall, a career which has been more stop than start since he debuted in 2016.
“I had got to an age where I probably thought international cricket was gone,” he admitted. “In my domestic career, I’ve tried to go out there and just enjoy playing for whoever I’m playing for. It was about going out there and not worrying about playing for England.
“I think that can hamper you sometimes so I’ve not really worried about that. I’m at an age now where I know that I’m close to finishing. I’m on the edge of that. So now it’s just about enjoyment, trying to work smarter in your training and just believing that you’re good enough.”
Raf reports that the covers are on and the groundsmen are applying bricks to stop them blowing away … the umpires are out in the middle and examining the damp grass under umbrellas.
Sophie Ecclestone to take a break from domestic cricket to prioritise well being and manage injury
And just like that, an update on Ecclestone from England:
“England spinner Sophie Ecclestone will take a break from domestic cricket in order to manage a minor quad injury and prioritise her well-being. She remains available for selection for England Women’s upcoming series against India.
“England Women’s Head Coach Charlotte Edwards said: ‘Sophie has been managing a quad niggle over the past week but more importantly she wants to take a step back from cricket for a short period to look after herself. We’re totally behind that. We want to be able to select Sophie for the India series but the most important thing for her at the moment is that she feels in a better place. We all agree that a break now could be beneficial for her to achieve that.’”
Updated
While we wait for the weather to improve – an update on Sophie Ecclestone, who wasn’t picked for the series – ostensibly because she wasn’t yet fit, possibly also in a power move by Charlotte Edwards. She didn’t play for Lancs on Tuesday against Hampshire because of a quad problem. England’s white ball series against India starts at the end of this month.
Rain stops play
12.3 overs: West Indies 43-3 (Joseph 21, Campbelle 18) And on come the covers as the rain finally becomes too hard to ignore.
Updated
12th over: West Indies 43-3 (Joseph 21, Campbelle 18) The groundstaff are lurking…Joseph puts front leg forward and has a huge heave across the line, Filer ends up flat on the deck again. Applies generous handfuls of sawdust to the guilty area and retorts with a screaming short ball that Joseph top edges just short of Jones who runs back, but can’t quite make the distance.
11th over: West Indies 40-3 (Joseph 20, Campbelle 16) A double bowling change, as Charlie Dean comes on at the end of the power play. Just two from the over.
10th over: West Indies 38-3 (Joseph 20, Campbelle 15) Time for some pace from Filer, who was so excellent in the last match. She falls over immediately in her follow through – both bony elbows bandaged up in case of impact. She’s not quite mastered her run-up yet this morning. Joseph whips one off her boots for four, and another next ball – bosh! The last delivery is a short ball which Joseph – and Filer at the other end.
9th over: West Indies 30-3 (Joseph 12, Campbelle 15) Another tidy over from Cross.
Some interval reading:
8th over: West Indies 28-3 (Joseph 11, Campbelle 13) The crowd sigh, thinking Dunkley has dropped a catch at cover, but Campbelle had slammed Arlott’s delivery into the grass first. Ooof – Campbelle is hit in the ribs by a rising delivery that darts in. Campbelle jags to move out fo the way but the ball follows her – arrowing in at the body. She cries out in pain and falls to the ground – but will continue.
7th over: West Indies 26-3 (Joseph 11, Campbelle 12) West Indies settling a little – a boundary for Joseph this time – a heave past the diving Sarah Glenn.
6th over: West Indies 21-3 (Joseph 6, Campbelle 12) Two fours from Arlott’s over, as Campbelle fights back. The second a drive that screams through the covers.
5th over: West Indies 12-3 (Joseph 6, Campbelle 4) The drizzle seems to have got a little harder out there at Taunton – the spectators under umbrellas, but Sue isn’t letting anyone off the hook. Another excellent over from Cross.
And an excellent stat from Syd Egan: “NSB carded to open the batting for England. The only other time she has opened in an international was the final T20 of the Covid series, also v West Indies, in Derby in 2020. That match was also rain-affected - a 5-over thrash, which England just won.”
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4th over: West Indies 8-3 (Joseph 2, Campbelle 4) Campbelle is greeted by a jaffa from Arlott that jags outside defensive prod. These are perfect bowling conditions, the ball nibbling with intent. But Campbell breaks the tension with a straight four off the last ball of the over.
Updated
WICKET! Taylor lbw Arlott 1 (West Indies 4-3)
Sue Redfern thinks about it – and raises the finger. Taylor reviews… we see Arlott swinging one in, Taylor thudding front foot forward, ball cannoning into pad.. and into middle stump.
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3rd over: West Indies 4-2 (Joseph 2, Taylor 1) The seagulls cry as they float around the ground – perhaps they’ve seen the heavy rain clouds approaching from the Quantocks. Neat and tidy from Cross, and West Indies survive their first over without losing a wicket.
2nd over: West Indies 2-2 (Joseph 1, Taylor' 0) Em Arlott returns to the side and takes the new ball from the pavilion end. Replays show her pulling an embarrassed face at her wicket – but it did exactly what it had to, even if James made a bit of a hash of her stroke.
WICKET! James b Arlott 0 (West Indies 2-2)
Full, accurate, dips under the bat and into the stumps!
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1st over: West Indies 1-1 (Joseph 0, James 0) : Kate Cross with the new ball, in the crowd children pull their hoods closer. She starts with a wide, but has a wicket two balls later.
WICKET! Grimmond c Jones b Cross 0 (West Indies 1-1)
A smidgen of movement and Grimmond can’t resist. International cricket pricking any bubbles – cruel mistress that it is.
Updated
Out come the players – as the raindrops freckle the camera lens.
Starting on time
Heather Knight is commentating today – after injury ruled her out of this series. Of the strength of this West Indies side, she says, “They’re obviously without a few big players and they’re going through a transition period. I thought Hayley Matthews put it really well during the T20 series – the West Indies haven’t had a huge amount of cricket domestically, so the players are having to learn in the international arena.”
It’s drizzing at Taunton, the skies are dishwater grey.
West Indies XI
West Indies: Qiana Joseph, Realeanna Grimmond, Zaida James, Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle (c, wk),Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Karishma Ramharack, Ashmini Munisar.
Updated
England XI
Three changes for England and a real jig of the order – NSB will open the batting.
England: Amy Jones (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Emma Lamb, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Alice Davidson-Richards, Em Arlott, Charlie Dean, Kate Cross, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Filer.
Updated
No Hayley Matthews for West Indies
West Indies are still without Hayley Matthews, so Shermaine Campbell captains again. She’d have bowled first too – and reports that Qiana Joseph is fit again and will open. Ashmini Munisar also plays, Afy Fletcher and Cherry-Ann Fraser miss out.
Updated
England win the toss and will bowl!
Under very threatening skies.
“We’ve batted twice, says NSB, “ we decided to look a bit differently at the game. Three changes – Tammy, Lindsey Smith and Lauren Bell are missing out – Charlie Dean, Em Arlott and Sarah Glenn are back – while we’re giving some more opportunities to the batters who have missed out and some shuffling of the order as well.”
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We have eyes, ears and pen in Taunton – Raf is ready and waiting:
“Having an iced coffee and a yoghurt flapjack in Tom Lammonby’s new cafe, 9/15, down the road near the Ring of Bells pub. Highly recommended! Weather currently dry. Iced coffee may be optimistic though.”
Preamble
Good morning! After a whirlwind few weeks, it all comes to an end today at Taunton, for the third and final ODI and the last match of this white-ball series against West Indies.
If England win today, they will be undefeated this summer, and the margins of victory - by over a hundred runs in the ODIs and T20 wins by eight and nine wickets, and 17 runs - show the gulf between the two sides.
England are bouncing – the collegiate captaincy of NSB working well, and some tasty performances from top – Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones – to bottom - Lauren Filer and Lindsey Smith. But there have been some bright sparks for West Indies too – not the least the sparkling half century by debutant pocket rocket Realeanna Grimmand in the last game.
Play starts at 11am, do join us.
