Rain plays a spoil sport again; England Women win the T20 series 1-0 against West Indies

After having clinched the ODI series 3-0, England Women would have liked to clean sweep the visiting West Indies in the three-match T20 series as well. However one thing that was standing strong between England and the T20 series clean sweep was the rain. Out of the three T20s that were scheduled, the two sides could play just one, with other two being washed out. England won the second T20 to take an unassailable lead of 1-0.

On Tuesday, the third T20 at Derby was washed out without a ball being bowled as the rain was pelting. This British summer has rather tured out to be a disappointing affair for the cricket lovers across world. With four of the men's World Cup matches being washed out and two of the women's matches being abandoned, rain has absolutely been a spoiler.



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“Wyatt” an innings; England Women beat West Indies in the second T20 to take an unassailable lead of 1-0

After a disappointing washout on Tuesday, a wonderful game of cricket was witnessed between England and West Indies when the two sides locked horns against each other on Friday at Northampton. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, England posted a daunting total of 180-6 in 20 overs, thanks to opening bat Danielle Wyatt’s delightful innings of 81 (55). Amy Ellen Jones (37) along with Wyatt stitched a 67 run opening partnership to give just the right start. Natalie Sciver (31) and skipper Heather Knight (22) then joined hands to take their side to a challenging total. The visitors had an ordinary day with the ball as none of their bowlers looked to jeopardize the English batting line-up.

Chasing over nine runs per over, the West Indies would have hoped for a better start. To their horror, both their openers were back in the hut inside two overs. Stacy-Ann King (43) looked to stabilize the innings with captain Stafanie Taylor (19), but the latter’s run out opened the floodgates. Chedean Nation’s knock of 32 went in vain as she ran out of partners. The visitors were reduced to 138-9 in 20 overs, falling short of 42 runs. Linsey Smith and Katherine Brunt were the pick of the bowlers as they scalped two wickets apiece.

Danielle Wyatt was adjudged as the Player of the Match for her scintillating knock of 81. The series will conclude on Tuesday as the two teams will meet for the third and last T20 at Derby. The West Indies will look to level the T20 series and leave the British soil with some cheer. 

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First Women’s T20 between England and West Indies abandoned due to rain

This English summer has been uncharacteristically wet as the rain has played a spoil sport quite a few times now. The latest victim of the incessant rain is the first T20 between England and West Indies.

After being at the receiving end of an ignominious 3-0 defeat, West Indies women would have looked for redemption against England in the three match T20 series. However, to their misfortune, the game that was scheduled on Tuesday was washed out without a single ball being bowled. This is the fifth time (four times in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup  and once in the Women’s T20) a match has been called off in the last 20 days.

The two sides will meet on Friday at Northampton for the second T20. Hope the Rain God turns a Nelson’s eye to the upcoming game. Fingers crossed. 

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England Women trounce West Indies by 135 runs; clean sweep the ODI series 3-0

Amy Ellen Jones’ wonderful run with the bat continued as she muscled yet another delightful half century against the visiting West Indies on Thursday in Chelmsford. Winning the toss and rightly electing to field first in a rain curtailed match, West Indies restricted England to 258-4 in 39 overs. The opening pair of Amy Ellen Jones (80) and Tammy Beaumont (46) stitched a solid partnership of 84 in 15.1 overs before Hayley Matthews got rid of Beaumont against the run of play. Wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor played a gem of an innings as she smashed a 61-ball 70 that included seven boundaries. Coming lower down the order skipper Heather Knight showed her class yet again as she bludgeoned West Indies’ bowlers with a 19-ball 40 smashing five boundaries and two sixes. Hayley Matthews picked up 2-52 in her eight overs, with Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack stricking with one wicket apiece.

The first innings was interrupted by rain and the DLS target for the visitors was set at 267 in 39 overs. After losing the first two games, West Indies would have hoped for a rain-free day, however, the British summer seems to show no respite. Chasing more than run a ball target was always going to be difficult and the West Indies opening pair did no good as they were sent back to the dressing room inside six overs. Kycia Knight (38) showed some intent but was running out of partners. English bowlers did a good job to skittle out the visitors for 131 in 37.4 overs, short of 135 runs. Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone scalped two apiece, with Bryony Smith, Jenny Gunn, and Heather Knight accounting for one dismissal each.

For her standout performance with the bat, Amy Ellen Jones was presented with the Player of the Match award. Having clean swept the ODI series 3-0, England will now take on West Indies for a three-match T20 series. The first T20 will be played in Northampton on Tuesday.  

Source: Cricbuzz

A historic moment for Cricket Australia as WBBL will stand alone in 2019

The fifth edition of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) will be a standalone tournament this year for the first time since its inception. The seven festival weekends will be power-packed with some exciting cricket.

The WBBL this year will precede the Australian Women's home summer prior to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020 in February-March. WBBL has garnered tremendous popularity with every passing year, courtesy the high standard of cricket played by the global cricketing stars. The tournament has reaped rich dividends from the broadcasters as the volume of televised content nearly doubled last season with the 23 broadcast matches averaging 2,13,000 on Seven and Fox Cricket.

The much awaited WBBL will kick start on October 18 when Sydney Sixers take on Sydney Thunder at the North Sydney Oval. Each team will play 14 matches with the semifinals and final to be hosted by the top-ranked team after the preliminary round. The final will be played on December 8.

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Cricket World Cup sees yet another disappointing day as the Rain God has the last laugh

As people in Mumbai were eagerly waiting for Rain God to wake up, quite contrastingly, people in England were waiting for Rain God to take some rest. With today’s Asian extravaganza between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh being called off due to rains, the ICC Cricket World Cup has witnessed three ‘No Result’ games out of 16. Let’s hope there are no more disappointing days in this exciting contest.

It is known to many that the British summer is a gamble. One year the weather will be picture perfect sunshine and the next will involve three months of non-stop rain. Will this year turn out to be a summer washout? Fingers crossed.

At the hindsight, the cricket fans must contemplate over two questions, number one, “Did ICC not check the weather forecast before scheduling the World Cup in England?” and number two, “Could the World Cup have taken priority over the IPL, just like in 2015?”

A team like South Africa who has had horrendous of starts would have felt more miserable when their match against West Indies was called off on Monday, courtesy the downpour. After today’s match also being abandoned due to heavy showers, both, the Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi outfits would be disappointed as the two sides would have fancied pocketing 2 points against each other. With practically no reserve days in store for the league matches, it will be interesting to see how the Cricket World Cup unfolds amidst the heavy rains.

As of now the millions of cricket enthusiasts can simply pray to Rain God to take it easy with its English child till July 14.   

Source: AFP

  

England Women take an unassailable lead of 2-0 against the West Indies

It seemed that the Rain God was not too happy on Sunday, as the game between West Indies Women and England Women was a rain curtailed affair. West Indies faced yet another embarrassing defeat at the hands of England when the two sides locked horns against each other in the second ODI at Worcester.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the hosts managed to score 233-7 in 41 overs. Opener Tammy Beaumont yet again showed her class with the bat as she muscled a gritty 61 (83), which included seven boundaries. Anya Shrubsole played a cameo at the end scoring 32 (16), to take the England score past 200. With the ball, Afy Fletcher was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped 3-48 in her eight overs.

In reply, as per the DLS, the visitors were set a challenging target of 209 in 28 overs. West Indies looked troubled and were in sorts whatsoever of chasing down the revised target. Shemaine Campbelle top scored with 29 (49) and was the solitary star in the West Indies batting card. Anya Shrubsole and Kate Cross bowled well consistently to pick up two wickets apiece, and received good support from Laura Marsh and Heather Knight, both accounting for one dismissal each. The visitors were reduced to 86-8 in 28 overs, thus, losing the match by a 121-run margin.

Anya Shrubsole was awarded as the Player of the Match for her scintillating all-round performance.

England has taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three match ODI series. The third ODI, which is just of academic interest for the hosts, but grace saver for the visitors, will be played on Thursday at Chelmsford.  

Source: Cricbuzz

England Women thrash West Indies by 208 runs to lead the three match series 1-0

West Indies cricket had a disappointing Thursday, as both the men’s team and women’s side were at the receiving end of defeat from Australia and England respectively.

At Leicester, English skipper Heather Knight won the toss and opted to bat on a batting paradise. Opening bat Amy Ellen Jones (91) and middle order bat Heather Knight (94) were the star performers for England as they helped their side post a daunting 318-9 in 50 overs. Windies offie Hayley Matthews was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped 4-57 in her 10 overs.

Chasing a humungous 319 was always going to be difficult. The disciplined English bowling coupled with electrifying fielding were responsible for West Indies’ dismal performance with the bat. The visitors were done and dusted for a paltry 110 in 36 overs, losing the game by a mammoth margin of 208 runs. Sophie Ecclestone and Laura Marsh bowled well in tandem to pick up three wickets apiece. Pace spearhead Katherine Brunt brought all her experience into the game as she accounted for 2-6 in her five overs.

Amy Ellen Jones was presented with the Player of the Match for her gritty knock of 91 (99). Both the Taylors, Stafanie and Sarah, who are the big match players for their respective countries, had an off day on the field. Probably a century from their skipper Stafanie Taylor would have made the match much more interesting.

The two sides will play the second of the three ODIs on Sunday at Worcester.

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