Reinstated at the top, Beaumont hits 62 off 49 to underpin convincing England win
Valkerie Baynes21-Sep-2020A half-century from Tammy Beaumont, looking at home back at the top of the order, led England to a comfortable 47-run victory over West Indies in the first T20I of their five-match series in Derby.Beaumont’s 62 from 49 balls was more than enough, despite the England line-up falling away from a promising start, steering the hosts to 163 for 8 before West Indies managed just 116 for 6 in reply in the first international women’s match between full-member nations since the T20 World Cup in March.Deandra Dottin’s 69 from 59 balls was in vain as England’s bowlers kept West Indies well contained, refusing to let them get near the run-rate required. While wicketless, Katherine Brunt, England’s veteran seamer, conceded just eight runs from her four overs, while Nat Sciver took 2 for 16 and Sophie Ecclestone 2 for 19.Beaumont back to the topHaving endured a lean T20 World Cup playing a floating role, Beaumont was restored to her favoured opening position in what turned out to be England’s last match of that tournament, a 46-run victory over West Indies in the group stage before the semi-final wash-out that allowed India to advance. On that occasion, Beaumont fell for a second-ball duck.But, sticking with the formula in the first match in six months for both sides, England prospered as Beaumont produced an innings characterised by flawless footwork, precision placement and power.Beaumont flayed the fourth legitimate ball of the match off Shamilia Connell through midwicket for four and took a similar liking to Shakera Selman in the second over, helping herself to two more boundaries and in between them lofting the ball into the deep on the leg side where Britney Cooper put down a difficult chance.Tammy Beaumont flicks a scoop over her left shoulder•Getty Images
Her four off Connell in the fifth over, skipping down the pitch and piercing the covers, was gorgeous and fittingly she brought up her fifty with a boundary off Aaliyah Alleyne through midwicket. It was Beaumont’s first half-century in 16 T20I innings. But her best shot came two balls later when she drilled Alleyne over mid-off for six, clearing the rope by some way.She shared a partnership with Heather Knight worth 50 off just 33 balls but England’s captain fell for 25 a short time later, wafting at a wide Selman delivery to be caught behind by Shemaine Campbelle. Beaumont’s innings came to a close when she attempted a reverse-scoop off Selman and found Afy Fletcher, who juggled but held on at short third man and England were 136 for 4.Amy Jones, who had been opening instead of Beaumont during the T20 World Cup and had looked far more comfortable when moved into the middle order in that previous match, played a similar innings in her 50th T20I, contributing a handy 24 off 16 deliveries.Taylor makes things happenStafanie Taylor, the West Indies captain, brought herself on in the sixth over and struck with her second ball when she drew an edge from Danni Wyatt, who had struck 17 off 11 by that point but ended up nudging the ball onto the off bail.Wyatt and Beaumont had taken England to 49 for 1 by the end of the Powerplay and Taylor did her best to stem the flow further with the valuable wicket of Sciver in her next over, with a mis-timed slog-sweep sailing to Cooper at deep midwicket.Once Jones fell to Selman, the pick of the West Indies bowlers with 3 for 26 from her four overs, that was the end of the England batting as they lost five wickets and added just 31 runs in the last five overs.Dottin back with the batAllrounder Dottin did not bowl as she continued her comeback from a serious shoulder injury, but she made a valuable contribution with the bat.Her six off Sarah Glenn over deep midwicket – measured at 88 metres – was positively massive, moving her within two runs of her half-century and following another straight down the ground off Anya Shrubsole earlier in her innings.Deandra Dottin swings into a pull•Getty Images
She brought up her fifty off 45 balls, but had faced 21 dot balls in that time. Her four off Glenn in the 11th over was West Indies’ first boundary since the fifth over as the tourists were contained following the loss two early wickets, including Taylor, bowled by a gem from Glenn to put them at 28 for 2 after they had ended the Powerplay on 26 for 1.Dottin was also on the scene during the comical run-out of Lee-Ann Kirby which featured mix-ups on both sides. Dottin called for two runs off Shrubsole, but was sent back by Kirby after the single and narrowly avoided being run out herself before, as Kirby attempted a run on the misfield, she could only watch in horror as Jones stretched to collect the ball, thrown in on the bounce by Knight, and whipped off the bails.Dottin eventually fell for 69, bowled by a Sophie Ecclestone delivery that skidded on from round the wicket and clattered into off stump to leave West Indies still needing 52 more with only nine balls remaining. Ecclestone, showing no ill effects after being struck hard on the helmet by a vicious Connell bouncer, followed up two balls later when she had Chinelle Henry lbw for a duck.