Anderson's fifer ensures England finishes atop Group 2, sees WINDIES bow out in defeat
Written By: Krissania Young
Date: 26-01-2023
Picture Courtesy: ICC/Getty
When the West Indies and England met in the final game of Group 2 at the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, the aspirations of both teams couldn’t have been more contrasting; the Caribbean side simply wanted to finish the tournament on a high while the English needed a clinical performance to tip New Zealand as group winners.
As if moulded in the image of their senior counterparts, England’s fast start was ensured not only by boundaries but by the sharp singles which frequented each over, racing to 34/0 after 4 overs.
The West Indies were, however, able to pull things back, giving away just 30 runs in the next 5 overs as Asabi Callender put Liberty Heap 13 (16) out of her misery in the process. Grace Scrivens and England’s response was one you’d expect of true tournament favourites, adding 36 runs in the next 18 deliveries to wrestle back control of the innings.
Scrivens and Davina Perrin would eventually fall in the space of thirteen deliveries, but the platform was already laid for Charis Pavely and Seren Smale to take centre stage in an unbeaten partnership of 48 (26).
Finding themselves 23/4 at the end of 7 overs while needing 180 runs for victory, the West indies quite simply never got going. The Rising Stars had to wait until the fifth pair came together to put on a partnership which went beyond single digits, with Ellie Anderson 5/12 and Alexa Stonehouse 2/15 proving unplayable on the day.
And just as there was only one partnership worthy of note for the West Indies, Djenaba Joseph’s unbeaten innings of 44* (42) was in a class of one in terms of batters which gave the English bowlers something to ponder. The West Indies eventually stuttered to 84/8 from their 20 overs. And England’s dominance resulted in a 95-run win which saw them finish atop Group 2.