Danni Wyatt-Hodge powered England into the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals with a well-crafted 65 in a professional 38-run victory over the West Indies in Group B at Lord’s.
Charlotte Edwards watched England make it four wins from four in the home tournament after they posted 186 for seven with in-form Wyatt-Hodge hitting eight fours in a fine 42-ball innings before she was run-out by team-mate Heather Knight.
Knight made amends with 43 during a chaotic end to England’s innings, but once they had removed the dangerous Hayley Matthews for 14 in contentious fashion, West Indies were unable to recover and were restricted to 148 for five.
A fourth consecutive World Cup victory for England ahead of Saturday’s final group fixture with New Zealand has secured a last-four berth and top spot in Group B, which has ensured no semi-final meeting with Group A leaders and six-time T20 champions Australia.
England under stand-in captain Charlie Dean were unchanged and put into bat first by Matthews in temperatures of 32 degrees in the capital.
Amy Jones and Sophia Dunkley were dismissed cheaply, but Wyatt-Hodge quickly looked in imperious form, producing one sumptuous cover drive for four, and found strong support in Alice Capsey.
It ensured England were 57 for two at the end of the powerplay, which was followed by a hydration break and a brief interlude of Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ from an excitable crowd.
With Capsey happy to pick out gaps in the field, Wyatt-Hodge found the boundary with regularity to bring up the fifty partnership and reach her half-century off 32 balls.
Capsey’s busy knock of 28 ended carelessly when she chipped to Chinelle Henry at long on, but Knight put her foot down before she left partner Wyatt-Hodge out to dry with a quick call for a single.
Wyatt-Hodge departed for a well-made 65 after sharp work in the field by Jannillea Glasgow and even though Knight was involved in two more run-outs, she reverse swept her way to 43 and Dean’s late cameo helped England post 186 for seven, which set a new record for a women’s T20 match at Lord’s.
A fast start was required for West Indies but after England seamer Lauren Bell built up pressure with two tight overs, Matthews was dismissed in controversial fashion.
Big appeals by England wicketkeeper Jones for a caught behind off Linsey Smith were initially ignored before the decision was reviewed and a spike was visible on UltraEdge, but there was a gap between bat and ball. TV umpire Nimali Perera eventually sided with the technology much to Matthews’ astonishment.
Matthews departed for 14 off 17 balls, but only after a brief remonstration on the field before she carried on her grievances with match referee Shandre Fritz.
Without captain Matthews, West Indies quickly collapsed to 69 for four after a superb catch on the boundary rope by Capsey gave Dean the first of two scalps.
It was not a perfect fielding display, however, with two drops in the 14th over. Firstly, Smith put down a tough chance before Jahzara Claxton received another life when Jones inexplicably spilled a high catch off Dani Gibson.
Gibson put down Henry soon after and some late blows by the West Indies number six helped her finish on 51 not out, but England stayed perfect after four matches.
