FRASER SETS THE TONE, BUT WEST INDIES FALL AGAIN

West Indies Women v England Women

4th T20 International

Venue: Kensington Oval

Toss: England won and batted

Result: England won by 49 runs

Series: England lead 4-0

Player-of-the-Match: Charlie Dean

Scorecard: http://bit.ly/wiwvengw4tht20score

Career-best bowling performances from seam bowler Cherry Ann Fraser and slow bowler Shenata Grimmond gave West Indies the ascendancy, but the batting faltered again leaving the home side short of the victory target. The result on Sunday night handed England their fourth victory of the five-match series.

The first half of the match belonged to Fraser who turned in a magnificent performance with the ball. Operating from the Joel Garner End at the north, she was impressive in her first spell when she took three wickets in an over to rock England after they decided to bat first. She first sent back Sophia Dunkley for 35 and two balls later removed Maia Bouchier. Next ball she captured the big wicket of captain Heather Knight for a “duck” as she edged to keeper Rashada Williams to leave England reeling on 73-5 in the 11th over.

IMPRESSIVE FIGURES

Fraser ended with impressive figures of 4-0-20-3 – the best of her career in her eighth match. Grimmond, the off-spinner was equally effective from the Malcolm Marshall End and returned figures of 4-0-33-3 – also the best of her career in her 13th appearance. She scythed through the middle-order to leave England 86-7 at the end of the 14th over. This was the turning point as England rebounded and added 45 in the final stages, thanks for Katherine Brunt (24 not out) and Charlie Dean (20).

The second half was headlined by England’s impressive bowling. Dean completed a superb allround match as she bowled with immaculate control to capture 2-16 to be named Player-of-the-Match. The tone was set by Lauren Bell with the new ball as she removed Aliyah Alleyne and Williams in the first overs. Bell came back at the back-end to finish off the innings to close with 3-0-12-4, while left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone took 2-13 off three overs.

Head Coach Courtney Walsh still had praises for his players despite the loss,

“I thought restricting them to 131 was a positive for us. We had a couple injuries during the match with Gajnabi unable to return to bat and Campbelle getting cut so we were hampered in that aspect. The bowlers stood out today, they’re all showing but the consistency we’re working on. Fraser and Grimmond lead with the ball today but Afy and Hayley have been the most consistent for the series. We have one more game to play and we’re going to regroup and come with one last push.”

BOTTOM LINE

West Indies will have one last chance to get a “W” in this series as the two teams return to Kensington Oval for the final encounter on Thursday night under the light. First ball is 6pm (Westindiescricket)