England begin West Indies T20I series with easy win

West Indies were restricted to just 105 for 7 in their 20 overs, a total that England knocked off without alarm

Antigua: West Indies 105-7, England 106-2 - England win by eight wickets

Scorecard

England began their final preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup with a dominant win over West Indies in the first of five T20Is between the sides.

After restricting their hosts to just 105 for 7 in their 20 overs, England – led by Danni Wyatt's unbeaten half century – romped home with 44 balls remaining.

Wyatt smashed 59, including sixes over long-off and deep midwicket, with the only England wickets to fall both runouts. Sophia Dunkley (25) was guilty of ball-watching and left short of her ground even after a fumble by wicketkeeper Kycia Knight, while Lauren Winfield-Hill (15) was comfortably out as she was called through for a single that wasn't on.

For Winfield-Hill, this was her first England appearance since losing her place after the World Cup defeat by West Indies in March. Her return to international cricket was a significant moment, having lost her central contract last month.

By the time she came out to bat at No.3, however, the game was all but won.

^{Hayley Matthews was bowled attempting to ramp as England dominated (Image: CWI Media)}

West Indies never recovered from a woeful start with the bat, which saw Aaliyah Alleyne, Knight and Hayley Matthews all fall inside the powerplay.

Alleyne was one of three wickets for Lauren Bell, bowled by a big inswinger, while Knight chipped Nat Sciver to Bell at mid-on and Matthews, with so much pressure on her shoulders as captain and the solitary consistent source of international runs in West Indies' line-up, missed an attempted ramp off Katherine Brunt.

Djenaba Joseph, called up from West Indies' under-19 squad ahead of January's Under-19 World Cup, chipped Heather Knight's off-spin over mid-off for four but was stumped as she looked to repeat the dose, with Rashada Williams (23) the only batter preventing even greater strife.

She was dropped at long-on by Brunt but ran herself out shortly afterwards to leave West Indies 60 for 5 in the thirteenth over. When Shemaine Campbelle looped the next ball into the hands of Winfield-Hill, their problems increased further.

Chinelle Henry and Shabika Gajnabi did at least combine to counterattack, with Henry's unbeaten 21 ensure West Indies would pass three figures. That was to be nowhere near enough, though, as Wyatt took the winning single in the thirteenth over.

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