Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jonathan Howcroft (now) Vithushan Ehantharajah (earlier)

England beat West Indies by 92 runs at Women's World Cup – as it happened

England’s Sarah Taylor celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies’ Kycia Knight.
England’s Sarah Taylor celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies’ Kycia Knight. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images/Reuters

Summary

Job done for England on a cold grey Bristol day when there wasn’t much to gain but plenty to lose.

It wasn’t a vintage batting effort but anything over 200 was going to be competitive on a dry turning surface. Heather Knight made sure her side reached at least par with a smart 67 before Laura Marsh and Jenny Gunn added some momentum at the end.

It was an inauspicious start with the ball but once spin replaced pace West Indies were unable to keep the scoreboard moving and conceded wickets at regular intervals. Seven LBWs is testament to the repeated attempts to play around the front pad to straight deliveries. Nat Sciver’s 3-3 from four overs catches the eye, but Tammy Beaumont’s outfield grab was arguably the highlight of England’s effort in the field.

The outcome of the day’s four matches means England top the group and will remain in Bristol for a semi-final with South Africa on Tuesday. The winner of that encounter will take on Australia or India in the decider.

Thanks for joining us, we’ll be here to do it all again in a couple of days.

England’s Anya Shrubsole celebrates the wicket of West Indies’ Anisa Mohammed.
England’s Anya Shrubsole celebrates the wicket of West Indies’ Anisa Mohammed. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images via Reuters

Updated

England win by 92 runs

West Indies’ innings eventually comes to an end at 128-9, what seems like an eternity since they had cruised to 34 without loss and still in with a chance. A record seven LBWs is the highlight of a scorecard dominated by England’s bowlers.

50th over: West Indies 128-9 (Kyshona 12, Joseph 0)

Knight finishes things off with a maiden.

WICKET! Mohammed LBW Shrubsole 14 (West Indies 128-9)

The 99th over of the match is a wicket-maiden, ending with Mohammed missing one that nips back in a touch, and hits her adjacent enough to convince the umpire to give it. I think the “get on with it so we can get to the pub” margin of error was activated.

48th over: West Indies 127-8 (Kyshona 12, Mohammed 14)

It is hard to retain any enthusiasm for this game when the side nominally chasing is no longer trying to chase the target. Only two overs left to endure.

Updated

47th over: West Indies 126-8 (Kyshona 11, Mohammed 14)

Shrubsole having a bowl now. Full, straight, and delivered for the concession of just one run. It’s cold, dark, damp and lifeless in Bristol, but this game refuses to end.

46th over: West Indies 125-8 (Kyshona 10, Mohammed 14)

Heather Knight has been the poorest of England’s bowlers today and she begins her latest spell with a delivery down the leg side that’s helped on its way for four. The final ball of the over also earns four runs, this time short and wide and carved behind point.

45th over: West Indies 117-8 (Kyshona 10, Mohammed 6)

Kyshona Knight has not looked to do a lot with her first 29 deliveries, but her 30th is driven gloriously through extra cover for four.

This partnership has now lasted eight overs for a run rate under 2 rpo.

44th over: West Indies 112-8 (Kyshona 6, Mohammed 6)

Hartley the latest England bowler to satisfy the requirement of turning her arm over. There’s at least a half-chance to report, Mohammed looking to drive, edging just beyond slip and away to the third-man boundary. Hartley finishes with 1-25 from her 10 overs. She bowled beautifully when the game was in the balance.

Updated

43rd over: West Indies 107-8 (Kyshona 5, Mohammed 2)

This game continues to meander aimlessly with Gunn enjoying some net practice out in the middle, West Indies blocking out another over. In club cricket the umpires would start firing out any batter who had the misfortune of the ball hitting their pads so everyone could leg it to the pub.

42nd over: West Indies 106-8 (Kyshona 4, Mohammed 2)

The 42nd over of a World Cup run chase is dead batted for a maiden.

India have beaten New Zealand to qualify for the semi-finals. They’ll likely face Australia in Derby on Thursday.

41st over: West Indies 106-8 (Kyshona 4, Mohammed 2)

Jenny Gunn has another bowl as this match dies a long slow death. Two singles and not a lot else to report.

40th over: West Indies 104-8 (Kyshona 3, Mohammed 1)

Hartley recalled to toss up her left-arm orthodox, conceding just one from an over that almost forced a catch at the wicket and featured a delivery bowled from nearer 30 yards than 20. Nice variations.

39th over: West Indies 103-8 (Kyshona 1, Mohammed 1)

Brunt bending her back trying to mop up the tail. Anisa Mohammed doesn’t look like she’s overly keen to be out in the middle as rain begins to fall around the County Ground. The last rites of this contest will be a bit damp.

38th over: West Indies 101-8 (Kyshona 1, Mohammed 0)

Sciver still giving nothing away, conceding just one run from the 38th over.

37th over: West Indies 100-8 (Kyshona 1, Mohammed 0)

So England, Australia, and India are all cruising in the three matches that matter. Which means we’re heading towards England v South Africa on Tuesday here in Bristol and Australia v India on Thursday in Derby.

WICKET! Peters LBW Brunt 0 (West Indies 100-8)

Brunt given a second spell to join in the fun, and she wastes no time, picking up Akeira Peters on review. The left-hander missed a delivery angling into her from around the wicket. It wasn’t given on field but a review showed it smacking into leg stump.

Katherine Brunt appeals for the wicket of Akeira Peters who is given out.
Katherine Brunt appeals for the wicket of Akeira Peters who is given out. Photograph: Graham Hunt/ProSports/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

36th over: West Indies 100-7 (Kyshona 1, Peters 0)

DRS indicates that LBW should not have been awarded, Sciver’s delivery was in fact sliding down the leg side. Unfortunately Fletcher had no access to a review.

WICKET! Fletcher LBW Sciver 3 (West Indies 99-7)

Another straight delivery, another batter playing around her front pad, missing, and inviting the raised index finger. Fletcher this time handing Sciver her third.

35th over: West Indies 99-6 (Fletcher 3, Kyshona 1)

A misfield from Winfield stands out for its rarity as Marsh concludes her excellent day with figures of 1-26 from her 10 overs. Marsh’s late blast with the bat changed the momentum of the game and her tight bowling helped ram home that advantage.

Updated

34rd over: West Indies 96-6 (Fletcher 1, Kyshona 0)

Sciver continues to keep the pressure on, conceding just the single.

At the innings break of all the relevant matches it looked as though we had three exciting games on our hands. A couple of hours later and England are hurtling through West Indies, South Africa are unravelling in their chase of Australia...

... and New Zealand are crumbling against India

Updated

33rd over: West Indies 95-6 (Fletcher 0, Kyshona 0)

A rare loose over from Marsh bowling around the wicket to the left-handed Kyshona but the four leg-byes won’t count against her figures.

India increasingly in control of their fourth-place playoff with New Zealand.

32nd over: West Indies 90-6 (Fletcher 0, Kyshona 0)

England rattling through a beleaguered West Indies now. That Beaumont catch was a beauty but the three recent LBWs owed more to the batter than the bowler.

WICKET! Aguilleira LBW Sciver 8 (West Indies 90-6)

Two in three balls for Sciver! Gun barrel straight, Aguilleira plays around her front pad, misses the ball, and there’s only one possible outcome on a pitch with bounce as low as this.

Updated

WICKET! Nation c Beaumont b Sciver 23 (West Indies 89-5)

Wow! A catch of the tournament contender from Tammy Beaumont. Natalie Sciver comes into the attack and her first delivery is a long hop that Nation gets hold of but Beaumont darts around from deep midwicket to take a running sliding catch low to her right at deep backward square. Outstanding fielding.

Updated

31st over: West Indies 89-4 (Nation 23, Aguilleira 8)

Laura Marsh returns in place of Knight and returns to her groove outside the off stump, full and spinning in. Aguilleira has a look at a few and then decides it’s time to take the game on, sweeping powerfully for a rare boundary.

30th over: West Indies 84-4 (Nation 22, Aguilleira 4)

Nation manages to work Hartley behind square for a couple but with just 20 overs now remaining it all feels like we’re watching fiddling while Rome burns. West Indies need a spark from somewhere.

29th over: West Indies 80-4 (Nation 19, Aguilleira 3)

Knight immediately reapplies the vice, restricting scoring opportunities and racing through another parsimonious over.

Australia with another breakthrough.

28th over: West Indies 79-4 (Nation 18, Aguilleira 3)

Better from West Indies, Nation and Aguilleira rotating the strike safely, scoring off four deliveries. They haven’t done enough of that bread and butter one-day batting, allowing England to dictate terms and apply pressure without expending much effort.

27th over: West Indies 75-4 (Nation 15, Aguilleira 2)

England turning the screw in Bristol, Australia gaining the upper hand against South Africa, and India with the ascendancy over New Zealand.

WICKET! Dottin LBW Knight 7 (West Indies 73-4)

Knight keeps herself on despite an underwhelming couple of overs and Dottin frees her shoulders, sweeping powerfully to midwicket for a much needed boundary.

She tries again, and again, eventually missing one, her pad getting in the way and the dreaded finger of doom following closely after. NOt the smartest batting from someone of Dottin’s calibre.

Heather Knight celebrates after taking the wicket of Deandra Dottin.
Heather Knight celebrates after taking the wicket of Deandra Dottin. Photograph: Graham Hunt/ProSports/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

26th over: West Indies 69-3 (Nation 15, Dottin 3)

Like with Matthews before her, Dottin wants to assert herself against Hartley but these left-arm floaters are proving difficult to get hold of. Another tight over for England.

25th over: West Indies 68-3 (Nation 15, Dottin 2)

Better from Knight but still with the odd wayward delivery. West Indies lacking any momentum though and England’s smart field placings and sharp fielding preventing any freebies.

New Zealand in a spot of bother in their decider with India.

24th over: West Indies 66-3 (Nation 14, Dottin 1)

The wicket ball from Hartley looked there to be hit in the air, angling on a middle and leg stump line, but as soon as it hit the deck it gripped, straightened and was hitting plenty of computer generated timber.

Massive pressure now on Deandra Dottin to back up her century.

WICKET! Matthews LBW Hartley 29 (West Indies 64-3)

Huge wicket for England! Again Matthews tries to launch Hartley into Wales. She slogs and misses the opening delivery and slog sweeps and misses the second, adjudicated LBW in the process. She reviews but to no avail.

23rd over: West Indies 64-2 (Matthews 29, Nation 13)

Heather Knight brings herself on to bowl her right-arm medium pace from over the wicket to the right-handed pair at the crease. It’s not the best of starts with a hotch-potch of lines and lengths, including enough down the leg side to allow the West Indies a handy eight runs.

In other sporting news, Garbine Muguruza has won Wimbledon.

22nd over: West Indies 56-2 (Matthews 27, Nation 8)

Matthews again tries to go after Hartley. She swipes and misses the first, connects with the second but only enough to lob it on the bounce to long off. It does enough to put Hartley off her line though, angling a rare delivery down leg, helped on its way to the fine leg boundary by Nation.

Every so often the English bowlers get one to grip. They’ve all beaten the edge but they’ve done enough to plant seeds of doubt into the minds of the batters.

21st over: West Indies 51-2 (Matthews 26, Nation 4)

Marsh with a maiden immediately after a drinks break. Six deliveries well flighted, dropping on a good length outside off stump spinning into the right handed Nation.

Hayley Matthews of West Indies plays a sweep shot during the ICC Women’s World Cup match between England and West Indies at the Bristol County Ground.
Hayley Matthews plays a sweep shot. Photograph: Graham Hunt/ProSports/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

20th over: West Indies 51-2 (Matthews 26, Nation 4)

Matthews senses the build up of pressure and has a dart at Hartley but only finds mid-on. A stumping is sent upstairs but Nation never left her ground.

Important wicket for Australia.

19th over: West Indies 49-2 (Matthews 25, Nation 3)

Marsh continuing her excellent spell, getting the odd delivery to rip on this bone dry surface. Half a shout for caught behind off a bat pad, but nothing doing. England rattling through their work, suffocating West Indies.

Australia have a real fight on their hands.

18th over: West Indies 47-2 (Matthews 24, Nation 2)

Alex Hartley’s left-arm orthodox into the attack, around the wicket to the right-handers, landing around off stump and spinning away, looking for the outside edge. Her first over is a maiden, Matthews wanting to attack but finding no timing whatsoever.

17th over: West Indies 47-2 (Matthews 24, Nation 2)

Marsh floating up innocuous looking offies outside off-stump to the two right-handers but there’s enough doubt in the minds of the batters and enough happening off the pitch to make them seem like hand grenades. Two singles off it.

Huge wicket for India who are in the box seat for that fourth semi-final spot.

16th over: West Indies 45-2 (Matthews 22, Nation 1)

Gunn has done an excellent job for her captain so far bowling dot after dot with an impeccable line and length to Nation. She’s conceded just four runs from her four overs.

15th over: West Indies 43-2 (Matthews 22, Nation 0)

Marsh continuing to tease the right-handed Matthews but West Indies’ main hope works five from the over to start the scoreboard ticking over again.

South Africa setting the cat among the pigeons:

14th over: West Indies 38-2 (Matthews 17, Nation 0)

England suddenly right on top now. The runs have dried up, they’re racing through their overs and two cheap wickets have enlivened the field. Plenty of discussion continuing about that LBW decision and the inability of Taylor to confer with Matthews before walking off.

Big wicket for India:

13th over: West Indies 37-2 (Matthews 16, Nation 0)

And DRS proves that dismissal was missing leg stump! It was a sharp call onfield and Taylor knew it wasn’t plumb but she wasn’t confident enough to burn a review. How costly might that prove?

Chedean Nation the new batter.

Taylor LBW Marsh 0 (West Indies 37-2)

Marsh with the second breakthrough for England. After pursuing a line outside off stump she straightens one and raps Taylor on her front pad. It didn’t look plumb to the naked eye but the skipper chooses not to review.

Laura Marsh celebrates after dismissing Stafanie Taylor.
Laura Marsh celebrates after dismissing Stafanie Taylor. Photograph: Harry Trump/IDI/Getty Images

Updated

12th over: West Indies 36-1 (Matthews 16, Taylor 0)

Gunn proving near impossible to get away, following up her maiden with just a single from her second over. Nothing fancy, just hitting the top of off and letting the pitch do the rest.

11th over: West Indies 35-1 (Matthews 15, Taylor 0)

Tidy over from Marsh as England up the pressure and get through their work quickly. No shortage of turn too.

10th over: West Indies 34-1 (Matthews 14, Taylor 0)

Jenny Gunn is the fourth England player to be thrown the ball and Charlotte Edwards reckons she’ll be the hardest bowler to get away on this surface, and so it proves with a maiden and the run out cherry on top.

Stafanie Taylor the new batter.

Updated

WICKET! Kycia run out (Wilson) 17 (West Indies 34-1)

Oh dear, out of nothing West Indies lose a wicket to a needless run out. Matthews pushed the ball to point and both batters ball-watched, dawdling mid pitch as a run was half-heartedly attempted. Wilson swooped, hurled it to Taylor who did the rest. Tame end to a chanceless start.

Sarah Taylor celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies’ Kycia Knight.
Sarah Taylor celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies’ Kycia Knight. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images/Reuters

Updated

9th over: West Indies 34-0 (Matthews 14, Kycia 17)

Laura Marsh into the attack now from the Ashley Down Road end with England finally taking some pace off the ball on this subcontinental track. Blimey! Matthews sizes a couple up and then absolutely larrups one a million miles for a gargantuan six over long on! That was pure wallopping goodness.

South Africa keeping Australia honest in the battle for top spot.

8th over: West Indies 27-0 (Matthews 7, Kycia 17)

Another over with little for England to cheer. Shrubsole short twice and dispatched twice by Kycia but only one of those reached the midwicket fence, limiting the damage.

Katherine Brunt of England opens the bowling against the West Indies.
Katherine Brunt of England opens the bowling against the West Indies. Photograph: Graham Hunt/ProSports/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

7th over: West Indies 21-0 (Matthews 7, Kycia 11)

Taylor standing at both ends now with pace still the order of the day but there’s nothing she can do about the latest loose delivery angled down the leg side that’s helped on its way by Kycia for another boundary.

Not much for England to get excited about yet, time for spin soon you’d think.

6th over: West Indies 16-0 (Matthews 7, Kycia 5)

Up steps Taylor to the stumps, helmet donned, to the aggressive Shrubsole. And Taylor takes the bails off with Matthews well out of her ground - but it was from a no-ball free hit. Matthews is moving a lot more freely, in case you were wondering.

New Zealand know what they have to chase:

5th over: West Indies 12-0 (Matthews 5, Kycia 5)

Brunt bowling a good length to a fourth to fifth stump line against Matthews with a series of pushes and checked drives finding the field before a loose delivery angled to leg is milked off her pads for the first boundary of the chase.

Right on cue...

4th over: West Indies 8-0 (Matthews 1, Kycia 5)

Good over from Shrubsole, full and probing at Kycia who’s happy to see out a maiden.

Thanks to Mithali Raj, India look in pole position to secure that fourth qualifying spot.

3rd over: West Indies 8-0 (Matthews 1, Kycia 5)

A lovely cover drive from Kycia earns three and only a desperate chase from Wilson keeps it from being four. Some nice shape in the air for Brunt but it’s not troubling the opening West Indians so far who are getting in line to anything full. A loose attempted pull from Matthews almost loops to midwicket, but it lands safely.

Breakthrough for Australia!

2nd over: West Indies 4-0 (Matthews 1, Kycia 2)

Pace at both ends for England with Anya Shrubsole sharing the new ball. The right-armer coming over the wicket, wide on the crease, hitting the deck hard and angling the ball across the left-handed Kycia and into the right-handed Matthews. One from it.

Meanwhile, over in the biggest match of the day:

1st over: West Indies 3-0 (Matthews 1, Knight 1)

Katherine Brunt with the new ball for England and there’s a bit of swing both ways for the pace bowler in an impressive start.

Hayley Matthews and Kycia Knight are both off the mark early but Matthews’ single really should have been two but she’s clearly troubled by that cramp in her left calf.

Almost time for West Indies to begin their chase of 221, and the good news is Hayley Matthews is fit enough to open after that injury scare.

Who joins England, Australia and South Africa in the semis?

That remains very much in the balance because there was rain in Derby delaying proceedings but India, at 215-4 (45 overs) are moving along nicely. The incomparable Mihali Raj is unbeaten on 94 after racking up a record ninth half-century of the year.

The battle for top spot...

There are three other matches in progress, two of them with a baring on the semi-final draw.

Focussing on England’s battle for top spot to begin with, Australia racked up 269 batting first against South Africa. Australia are currently level on points with England but second due to net run rate. I’m no maths champion but by my rudimentary calculations they’re back in contention if they can bowl as impressively as they batted.

If England finish top, they will remain in Bristol for their semi and play whoever finishes fourth. If they fail to beat West Indies or Australia overhauls the net run rate deficit, they will travel to Derby to take on the third-place finishers.

Afternoon everybody, on what’s turned out to be a trickier day than England would have preferred. After arriving in Bristol expecting a walkover they’ve found a very tired surface offering appreciable spin and in the end did well to grind their way to 220.

Heather Knight’s 67 held it all together and some terrific late hitting from Jenny Gunn and Laura Marsh have set a target the home side should be confident of defending. Especially so considering they have a clear understanding of how the pitch is likely to play and the value of spin, spin, and more spin.

West Indies’ spinners bowled superbly, Afy Fletcher (3-33) especially, offering plenty of flight, dip and turn. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough sustained discipline to keep England under 200 with a score of missed run-out opportunities, keeping errors and 24 wides.

Heather Knight and Jenny Gunn steered England to a competitive total against West Indies.
Heather Knight and Jenny Gunn steered England to a competitive total against West Indies. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images via Reuters

That’s all from me. Jonathan Howcroft, fuelled by tea on the other side of the world, is set to take over for the West Indies chase. What a world. Bye!

Updated

WEST INDIES WILL CHASE 221

50th over: England 220-7 (Marsh 31, Gunn 24) Right after the impromptu injury break, Marsh ramps over her shoulder for four more! Brilliant cameo from her, finishing on 31. Matthews collapses again right after that final delivery. She’s still there now as I sign this off. A concern for West Indies considering she’ll be opening the batting in half-an-hour.

Concern for Hayley Matthews...

She collapsed after bowling her third delivery, clutching the back of her left knee as she went down. Luckily, it looks like it’s just a bad case of cramp. Perhaps her calf, which I can tell you from experience, is a doozy. She’s up now and is set to continue...

49th over: England 212-7 (Marsh 25, Gunn 22) Here we go… the 200 comes up with a powerful sweep from Marsh through square leg for four. A single brings Jenny Gunn on strike and she gives Taylor the charge and smokes her down the ground for six big ones! #UNIVERSEJEN! Six more deliveries to go and Hayley Matthews will be bowling them…

48th over: England 197-7 (Marsh 17, Gunn 15) Boggy pulls out the reverse sweep! She doesn’t get a lot of the ball but enough to get it fine and away for four. She does much worse with a full toss next ball, which she plinks to midwicket for just a single.

47th over: England 189-7 (Marsh 11, Gunn 13) Taylor’s taking all the pace off the ball, so Marsh and Gunn have to make do with sweeps and the odd bunt down the ground. Four singles from the over. More clout needed, you’d imagine.

46th over: England 185-7 (Gunn 12, Marsh 8) Singles into the leg side for both, as Matthews, cap on, continues to dart the ball into both right-handers. 200 for the psychological boost...

45th over: England 181-7 (Gunn 10, Marsh 6) Neatly done by Laura Marsh, who in another life was England’s white ball opening batsman, as she gets on one knee and tickles Stafanie Taylor to fine leg for four.

44th over: England 174-7 (Gunn 8, Marsh 1) This entry was going to start with a moan about West Indies bringing on a part-timer in Matthews. But her quick offies prove might effective. Knight starts with a dab for two but is rushed into a swish across the line, losing her off bail. Stefanie Taylor’s had a good day in the field. And now she fancies turning her arm over again…

WICKET! Knight b Matthews 67 (England 172-7)

There’s the wicket West Indies and Australia wanted. And it’s come via a Hobart Hurricanes connection. Hayley Matthews gets one to go through Knight, who was attempting to find runs on the leg side without really moving her feet. Still – sound innings from the England skipper.

Heather Knight is bowled by Hayley Matthews.
Heather Knight is bowled by Hayley Matthews. Photograph: Graham Hunt/ProSports/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

43rd over: England 170-5 (Knight 65, Gunn 7) That’s Anisa’s ten done now, too. Concedes just 32 from her set, plus the wicket of Brunt. Gunn and Knight are happy to see her off by finding singles to the boundary riders. Meanwhile, an Aussie perspective on what’s happening here at Bristol:

42nd over: England 165-5 (Knight 62, Gunn 6) Heather’s flicked a switch... Dottin strays onto leg stump, twice, and is punished accordingly. The first is played neatly through midwicket. The second is hit through square leg and should be stopped by the fielder running around from fine. Instead, it runs through her legs for four more. A full toss follows but that is bunted to Hayley Matthews, patrolling the leg side sponge.

41st over: England 156-6 (Knight 53, Gunn 6) Anisa Mohammed and Deandre Dottin to bowl out here. Presumably Taylor will bring herself back soon, too. Mohammed’s over, here, isn’t anything special, but there’s nearly a catastrophic run out off the last ball, as neither Knight or Gunn are firm on whether a run should be taken and nearly end up at the same end.

40th over: England 153-6 (Knight 51, Gunn 5) Power Play done. Not quite as explosive as England would have hoped but there is a bit left in the tank for a tilt at 200-plus.

KNIGHT BRINGS UP HER 13th ODI FIFTY!

39th over: England 150-6 (Knight 50, Gunn 4) A third score of 50 or more this World Cup for Heather Knight, who has really had to graft for all 76 balls. Her three fours were a tad fortuitous but she’s still there and a lot rests on her shoulders.

Heather Knight is congratulated by Jenny Gunn after scoring a half-century.
Heather Knight is congratulated by Jenny Gunn after scoring a half-century. Photograph: Graham Hunt/ProSports/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

38th over: England 147-6 (Knight 49, Gun 2) Afy Fletcher’s 10-overs finishes with only the second boundary scored off her bowling as Knight edges very fine to move to 49. Excellent spell from the leggie, who takes home figures of 3 for 33.

37th over: England 142-6 (Knight 45, Gunn 1) Fair enough from Brunt. Big hits are her game so no qualms with trying to go large down the ground. Jenny Gunn is the next bat in. She hit 39 on this ground against Australia two games ago...

WICKET! Brunt st Aguilleira b Mohammed 14 (England 141-6)

Brunt tries to clear the Suspension Bridge but forgets to watch the ball. Aguilleira does the rest.

36th over: England 139-5 (Knight 44, Brunt 13) First over of the batting Power Play doesn’t return a boundary but it does bring about this classic. Bristol DJ, we salute you:

35th over: England 135-5 (Knight 42, Brunt 11) Knight is subject to another appeal, as she walks across her stumps to work an off spinner from Anisa Mohammed behind square. The excessive turn saves her.

34th over: England 132-5 (Knight 40, Brunt 10) Katherine Brunt is all about sweeping the spinners. She’s not really got one out of the middle but what she is doing well is ensuring that her front pad is well out of the way to lessen the chance of an LBW. Big turning leggie coerces the most violent play-n-miss from Brunt. Knight survives an LBW appeal but only because they don’t go for a review! What a miss. But, above all else, a bad decision from the standing umpire.

Break for drinks. THIS

33rd over: England 130-5 (Knight 39, Brunt 9)

Two from the over. What’s a good score here? Discussion in the box with my table-mate Liam led us to something over 200. Didn’t really matter what. He’s not backing them to chase something of that size. Can England muster 120 from the next 17 overs? Probably not, but that’s them comfortably ahead if they do.

32nd over: England 128-5 (Knight 38, Brunt 8) Not sure why, but Brunt is following Fletcher off the pitch, seemingly ushering it through to the keeper with her bat. Not a great idea, given there’s a slip lurking. She almost gives that slip catching practice, but edges just short.

31st over: England 123-5 (Knight 33, Brunt 8) We’ve had, I’d say, three genuine run out chances at the bowler’s end this over. Each throw has had something wrong with it. The most notable was the second, as Knight put in a dive and was saved by a high throw. Look - it’s 12345!

30th over: England 118-5 (Knight 29, Brunt 7) “That’s it girl, that’s it! Beauty! Keep it there!” We rather brilliantly have a member of the West Indies coaching staff up on an adjoining balcony. He’s loving what Afy Fletcher is sending down. The last delivery turns big, squaring up Brunt and just missing her outside edge. Class.

29th over: England 114-5 (Knight 28, Brunt 4) Tidy from Mohammed, who doesn’t have to do anything special, really. England have to force the pace off a pitch that they can’t really trust.

28th over: England 112-5 (Knight 27, Brunt 3) Very vocal encouragement from the West Indies balcony, which is located to the right of the media box as you look out onto the pitch. Fletcher’s having a party, especially as Brunt seems willing to play a shot a ball. A swot to the leg side brings two...

27th over: England 110-5 (Knight 27, Brunt 1) Wowsers... an offie from Mohammed turns big down the leg side for a wide having pitched outside off!

26th over: England 105-5 (Knight 24) Touch of carelessness to this innings from England. Wouldn’t say that the shots they’ve played have been reckless but I bet they’d love to have a few of them back. Wilson tried to force that sweep when she might have been better placed to meet it with a straighter bat.

WICKET! Wilson c Aguilleira b Fletcher 5 (England 105-5)

Brilliant review from Stafanie Taylor, who is doing a lot right today. Umpire says not out for a caught behind shout as Wilson attempts to sweep. But upon review, there’s a clear edge off the toe of the bat.

25th over: England 101-4 (Knight 21, Wilson 4) Anisa Mohammed, off spinners out of the grey sky, comes on from the Bristol Pavilion End. Single to midwicket brings up the team 100. The second fifty took 90 balls...

Elsewhere, a crucial break in the Derby weather for New Zealand



24th over: England 99-4 (Knight 20, Wilson 3) Smart from England. No use just sitting back to Afy Fletcher and let her bowl out her 10 overs for spit. Wilson and Knight use their feet to work some angles for singles all around the wicket. Knight drops one to cover, runs, doesn’t realise the fielder has fluffed the pick-up and put in a brilliantly unncessary dive.

23rd over: England 95-4 (Knight 18, Wilson 1) Wilson off the mark with a reverse dab for one. Tidy, that.

22nd over: England 91-4 (Knight 15, Wilson 0) Double wicket maiden for Fletcher! Outrageous scenes. Fran Wilson, who kicked off the tournament with 81 against India, hasn’t really had the chance to bat long. She does now.

WICKET! Sciver b Fletcher 0 (England 91-4)

Oh my... Sciver gone! Full, leg-spinning delivery from Fletcher turns back into the right-hander from leg stump and sets the lights off! There’s a Natmeg quip to be made here...

WICKET! Beaumont c Aguilleira b Fletcher (England 91-3)

Another shot of the day, albeit on a list of a different theme. Beaumont tries to paddle over the keeper, but with so little pace on the ball, she ends up just teeing it up in the air for the keeper. Simple.

21st over: England 91-2 (Beaumont 42, Knight 15) Shot of the day so far. Taylor, on off stump, is panged over extra cover gloriously by Beaumont, who uses her feet to get to the pitch of the ball and clear the ring.

20th over: England 85-2 (Beaumont 37, Knight 14)

Afy Fletcher, leggies out the back of her hand, comes on to replace Peters. Naturally, there’s a full toss but the rest land and turn nicely. Manageable turn, though. Beaumont finds a single under Taylor at cover, who gives it the Tower Bridge.

19th over: England 82-2 (Beaumont 36, Knight 12) Quality from Beaumont. Rather than snatch at one, she waits on a ball from Taylor that drifts into her pads. Out comes the sweep, away goes the ball, fine, for four. She really is a player transformed.

18th over: England 75-2 (Beaumont 31, Knight 10) Wides, anyone? Peters has the keeper up and bowls one into the footmarks, which shoots away fine to the boundary. For those keeping score, that’s now 22. A single down to long on takes Knight to double figures for the first time in three innings.

17th over: England 68-2 (Beaumont 30, Knight 9) Hmmmmm... a chance goes begging and I’m not really sure how. Taylor’s line draws an attempted dab sweep from Beaumont. But she’s not in the right position for the shot and ends up plinking it up in the air. However, Aguilleira isn’t sharp enough to get in front of the stumps and take the catch.

16th over: England 67-2 (Beaumont 29, Knight 9) Akeira Peters continues after drinks and just one is taken. Run that is. Think you’re allowed to have a swig of more than one drink at the interval. That would be overly draconian for what is essentially an ICC ad-break.

15th over: England 66-2 (Beaumont 28, Knight 9) Don’t know if we can describe Stafanie Taylor as an off-spinner. She’s a top-spinner, if anything. Getting right over the ball and getting it to drop just in front of the batsmen. Beaumont and Knight play it sensibl enough. Quick interlude for drinks.

14th over: England 64-2 (Beaumont 27, Knight 8) Two runs from that over Peters who has no pace to work with. Looks like Dottin is having a rest and we’ll get some of Stafanie Taylor’s twirlers.

13th over: England 62-2 (Knight 26, Knight 7) Dottin strays onto the hip of Knight, allowing her a pretty easy four with a thick inside nick. The media box scorer has announced that we’ve had three overs without a wide. It’s all in the details.

12th over: England 58-2 (Beaumont 26, Knight 3) Continuing theme of left-arm but Joseph has been given a blow (a fine first spell of five overs, one for 29. Akeira Peters, proper mediums, replaces her. Three runs taken.

Meanwhile, in Leicester, a presentation for Shashikala Siriwardena. What a class act. A previous captain of Sri Lanka, she’s had to battle injuries to make it to this World Cup. Over a century of scalps to her name, too and she’s also Sri Lanka’s second-highest runscorer.

11th over: England 55-2 (Beaumont 25, Knight 1) Wow. Suddenly, West Indies have kicked it up a gear. A great stop at backward point ensures that Knight doesn’t get off strike too qucikly. She does eventually, though, edging through gully for a single. Louder in the field, quieter in the stands...

WICKET! Taylor c Matthews b Dottin 0 (England 54-2)

FIRST BALLER FOR SARAH TAYLOR! Big scalp for Dottin and celebrated accordingly with the Vincenzo Montella airplane – arms out, giving it the full sprint. Taylor just felt for one outside off stump, edging right into Matthews’ breadbasket.

10th over: England 54-2 (Beaumont 25, Taylor 0) When Lauren falls, Tammy learns. Joseph drops short to her, but she rolls her wrists to get the ball behind square leg, bisecting the two fielders out on the leg side. Power Play done – 44 dot balls in it and a rather naff 17 wides...

Oh Lauren Winfield – how to ruin a beautiful (ish) start...

Updated

WICKET! Winfield c Matthews b Joseph 11 (England 47-1)

Oh Lauren. Another start, another failure. Joseph drops one short, probably not deliberately, but there is a fielder out where Winfield hooks it. Hayley Matthews, one of the better fielders in this West Indies side, takes the catch on the fence.

9th over: England 45-0 (Beaumont 19, Winfield 11) Decent crowd considering there’s nothing really riding on this game and the weather isn’tthe best. Dottin seems to have lost that early movement and is struggling to control her lines, sending one wide for four. Nice shot for two from Beaumont, through midwicket ends the over.

8th over: England 34-0 (Beaumont 17, Winfield 8) Winfield, fed up of seeing Tammy have all the fun, tries to force Joseph through the off side. She gets one away, but a brilliant chase and dive from Hayley Matthews means Winfield has to do the work herself. Three to her and the strike for the next over...

If you don’t follow this account, you should. Stats and insight for days.

7th over: England 28-0 (Beaumont 17, Winfield 3) So good from TB. Bit of width from Dottin and she opens the face into a square drive for four beyond backward point. Meanwhile, there’s a proper “quarter-final” taking place at Derby. New Zealand, bowling first, have made a handy start...

6th over: England 21-0 (Beaumont 11, Winfield 3) WHAM! Beaumont finally gets one out of the screws. Joseph drops short and the pint-sized puncher from down Kent way laces a pull through square leg and away into a bush beyond the advertising boards. Four bits. Slight delay, though, as West Indies, with the help of a few ICC reps, struggle to locate the ball. Moments after it is returned, Beaumont sends it back away to the sponge, this time at extra cover.

You’re welcome

5th over: England 12-0 (Beaumont 3, Winfield 3) Fair play to Beaumont. She doesn’t fancy ceding much ground to Dottin, who is tying her in knots. She walks down to throw the seamer off her length but finds nothing but air.

4th over: England 11-0 (Winfield 3, Beaumont 2) Winfield’s off and running, whipping away behind square leg for a couple. The same shot brings her a single the very next ball. It’s a used pitch, by the way, though one that has been “brought back to life” as England coach Mark Robinson put it.

Yer Bristol deck

3rd over: England 6-0 (Winfield 0, Beaumont 1) Beaumont’s struggling a bit with the movement Dottin is getting. So is Aguilleira. Somehow, despite the ball coming through to her after a couple of bounces, she falls out of the way and lets the ball race away for the first boundary of the day. Meanwhile, at Leicester, in the For Northing Derby:

2nd over: England 1-0 (Beaumont 1, Winfield 0) Qiana Joseph – 16! – takes the white nut from the Ashley Down Road End. There’s no great pace, but her angle across the right-hander tempts Beaumont into a bit of a naff waft at a delivery she should have probably put away. She waits a little longer and keeps herself a little steadier to find a single to backward point.

1st over: England 0-0 (Winfield 0, Beaumont 0) A bit happening out there with the new ball with the lights on and a think covering of cloud above. Dottin’s getting it to tail in late and strikes Winfield on the pad for a sizeable appeal. Doing too much, though. Would have rushed down leg and given Merissa Aguilleira something to dive for. We’re off with a maiden...

Right, cricket imminent. Deandra Dottin opening up from the Pavilion End. Tammy Beaumont, the comp’s leading run-getter, out to do the batting with Lauren Winfield, who has been hitting the ball well enough for us to throw out there that she’s DUE A SCORETM...

Updated

West Indies have won the toss and chosen to field

Stafanie Taylor fancies a chase. Heather Knight thinks it might turn later. England are unchaged. West Indies opt for the one alteration. Lights on here, too:

England: L Winfield, T Beaumont, S Taylor, H Knight, N Sciver, F Wilson, K Brunt, J Gunn, A Shrubsole, L Marsh, A Hartley

West Indies: H Matthews, K Knight, S Daley, C Nation, D Dottin, M Aguilleira, A Fletcher, A Mohammed, K Knight, A Peters, S Taylor

Updated

Preamble

Morning, morning, morning from a pretty dank Bristol. Can’t complain too much, though. Compared to the Champions Trophy, the Women’s World Cup has got off lightly in terms of the weather. It’s that weird, noncommittal rain (I think they call it Brizzle out here). If we were the other side of Hadrian’s Wall, we’d call it “Dreich”. Still, there’s been no word of a delayed start just yet, though it is a bit wet underfot. England are out there kicking a ball around. West Indies opting the warmth of indoors for now.

We could definitely do with a game here. England are top and in control of their own destiny. Winning the group means they’ll be able to stay put for their semi-final against fourth-place on Tuesday. If Australia, in action against South Africa, win and England don’t pick up two points, then England will finish second and have to travel for Derby for a match on Thursday. Extra time off, sure, but a pain nonetheless.

By the way, we’ve got a different choir today who are in greater numbers and belting out this absolute classic:

If you fancy getting in touch through the rain of shine, get me on my monstrous email – vithushan.ehantharajah.casual@theguardian.com – or send quirks to @Vitu_E.

Updated

Vish will be here shortly. Meanwhile, read his interview with Nat Sciver about the ‘Natmeg’ and England’s tournament so far.

In one sentence, uttered in the aftermath of England’s World Cup win over New Zealand, we cut to the core of Nat Sciver. She was speaking after blazing 129 from 111 balls: a knock that began at 52 for three and allowed England to reach 284 for nine. But never mind that. Tell us about “The Natmeg”.

On 79, Sciver deliberately hit a leg-stump yorker through her legs for two. It’s a shot she plays in the nets: her wide stance, she explained, meaning she can only move her front foot once. Readjustment comes from the hands. Sciver is not the first to play the shot – more boringly known as “The Draw” – and she won’t be the last. She even admitted an element of luck to the stroke, before remarking: “Everyone’s like” ‘Ah! So close to getting the wicket.’ I am like: ‘Hehe.’”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
As Jennifer Lopez’s Kids Turn 18, An Insider Drops Claims About Their ‘Atypical’ Childhood
The kids are alright.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
I Somehow Forgot That One Devastating Harry Potter Book Scene Wasn't Shown In The Movies
I remember the scene from the book so clearly ... too clearly.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Fans Accuse Kelly Osbourne Of Buccal Fat Removal As Her Brit Awards Look Goes Viral
“Looks like it'd be painful to smile. Good Lord. Scary thin," wrote one user.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
I Rewatched The Least-Talked About '80s Brat Pack Movie, And The Cringe Factor Is Through The Roof
It really doesn’t hold up. Like, at all.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Woman says drunk woman fell over in Chicago restaurant. Then the server says something shocking
A Chicago woman had an unusual experience when dining at an Italian restaurant. That’s because a woman nearby bumped into her date multiple times throughout the night and fell into her own appetizer midway through service.
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas canceled this year
Organizers say this year’s event is postponed to give it ‘the care it deserves’
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play