Day 6 Talking Points CWC22: Dottin takes a screamer after West Indies recover from a mini collapse

West Indies v England

University Oval, Dunedin - 9 March 2022

MATCH CENTRE | MATCH REPORT

There was some questionable fielding today especially in the first innings when England dropped seven chances but that was quickly forgotten when the West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin held onto a one-handed screamer to dismiss Lauren Winfield-Hill.

Dottin was fielding at backward point when England opener Winfield-Hill sliced the ball in her direction, but the West Indian had it all to do as she took a step to her left then leaped high to pull down a classic catch.

Curiously the roles were reversed off the first ball of the match when Dottin skied the ball and Winfield-Hill dropped a sitter - the first of many missed catches that went some way to costing England the match.

It was a difficult day for the England bowlers as they found it hard to break through the West Indian defences and had little support from their fumbling teammates in the field.

Sophie Ecclestone was the most threatening and appeared to have turned the match when she ended the West Indies’ promising start with two wickets of her own either side of a run out in the same over.

The left-arm orthodox spinner ended with 3/20 off 10 overs for the most economical figures so far in this World Cup, to go with the most expensive in the tournament when she went for 0/77 from 10 overs against Australia.

Natalie Sciver was the only other England bowler to claim a West Indian scalp, when she bowled a swinging Shemaine Campbelle in the 49th over, but with few wickets taken and losses recorded in their opening two matches the pressure is on the bowling group to turn it around.

Dottin and Hayley Matthews built the foundation for a stirring victory as they put together the West Indies’ highest opening stand at a Women’s World Cup with 81 runs until Ecclestone struck.

The strong start looked like it might be in vain when both openers were dismissed and skipper Stafanie Taylor was caught behind for a golden duck in the same over. Kycia Knight was caught off the bowling of Ecclestone shortly after in what had quickly become a mini collapse.

But Campbelle and Chedean Nation came together to rebuild the West Indies’ innings with assured batting through the middle overs and heavy hitting in the late stages.

Campbelle was particularly impressive as she compiled 66 runs off 80 balls until swinging wildly in the 49th over, but by then the pair had helped put the West Indies on the path to their first victory in five attempts against England at a World Cup.