by Charlie Dean continued his form with a four-wicket run as England secured a victory in the T20 International Series against the West Indies at the earliest opportunity with a sixth successive victory on tour.
A 17-point success in Barbados put England 3-0 with two remaining in the T20 series after sweeping the West Indies 3-0 in the previous one-day international leg of the tour.
Off-spinner Dean followed numbers of 3-22 in Wednesday’s second T20 with 4-19 in the third as West Indies were limited to 140-8 in response to England’s highest ever tally in the Caribbean of 157-6.
Sophia Dunkley (44 from 31) and Lauren Winfield-Hill (24 from 28) went 60 for England’s first wicket, while skipper Heather Knight (43 from 27) also impressed, hitting the only six in her team.
In T20 it’s all about trying to find the limits and playing to your strengths and I felt on that wicket that my strengths were a bit funky and hit the wicket squarely. It was nice to contribute to a team victory and nice to feel in good shape.
West Indies were 63-1 after seven overs in response but then lost Hayley Matthews (35 of 31) and Shemaine Campbelle (0) in the same dean – Matthews was left bewildered and Campbelle played during a young double-wicket girl – before stumbling in the final six overs from 103-3 once Trishan Holder (21) was out against Sophie Ecclestone.
A 13-point 17th, beaten by Nat Sciver, left the West Indies needing 30 of 18 balls, but Dean casted Kycia Knight (12) the next over and the home side’s hopes of keeping the streak alive faltered. are off in the 19th when Ecclestone conceded a single run and trapped top scorer Rashada Williams (38 of 29) lbs.
Dean was named Player of the Match after playing in just her third T20 international match, with wickets from Matthews, Campbelle and Knight after Dunkley caught Aaliyah Alleyne (3) in the third over of the West Indies chase.
The fourth T20 takes place on Sunday evening with the final game of the series on Thursday, which will be England’s last before February’s T20 World Cup in South Africa.
“England are not far from knowing the best team”
England captain Heather Knight…
“It’s all been a bit of a fact-finding mission and getting to know a few people and how they work in slightly different places. I don’t think we’re too far off from knowing who our best team is and potentially knowing what T20 World Cup squad looks like.
“On the bowlers we’ve obviously mixed up the team a bit to provide opportunities and work a bit on a few different players and someone like Charlie Dean has really come in and grabbed his own. We’re so lucky to have a such depth in the spin department.
“I think the way Sophia [Dunkley] threw us was a great tone setter for sleeves. She was so calm, knew her options very well.
“It’s always nice to go down on a flyer – it means you don’t have as much work to do in order and you can keep working hard throughout the heats.”
