West Indies stunned defending champions England by seven runs in a thrilling match of the ICC Women’s World Cup at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday.
The defending champions were bowled out for 218 in their chase after West Indies posted a total of 225/6 from their 50 overs.
West Indies won their first match of the tournament against New Zealand and are on a high after their second straight win.
England, on the other hand, will be lookin to bring their campaign back on track after now losing their second straight match.
Batting first, A half-century from Shemaine Campbelle has helped West Indies post a competitive total in their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup clash against England in Dunedin on Wednesday.
Campbelle scored 66 from 80 deliveries, while Chedean Nation (49*) and Hayley Matthews (45) contributed valuable knocks as the West Indies overcame a mid-innings collapse to post 225/6 from their 50 overs at University Oval.
It looked like the West Indies were on their way to a massive total when Matthews and Deandra Dottin (31) put on 58 during the opening powerplay and then took the score to 81 without losing a wicket.
But the introduction of Sophie Ecclestone (3/20) into the attack helped slow the scoring and the match turned on its head during an eventful 21st over as the West Indies lost three wickets in five deliveries.
Matthews was the first to go when she edged Ecclestone to Anya Shrubsole and Dottin followed three balls later courtesy of some excellent fielding from the experienced Danni Wyatt.
The West Indies then lost skipper Stafanie Taylor first ball as Ecclestone gave England the ascendancy, only for Campbelle and Nation to fightback with an impressive 123-run stand for the fifth wicket.
In reply, England nearly pulled through, courtesy of a 61-run stand between Sophie Ecclestone (33 no) and Kate Cross (27) for the ninth wicket before being all-out for 218 in 47.4 overs.
When England batted, their innings never had the momentum as they were 72 for four at one stage and then 156 for 8 at the end of the 36th over before Ecclestone and Cross nearly carried them home with their highly effective partnership.
It came down to the last three overs and it looked like the duo were going to get the job done as England required just nine runs for victory and still had two wickets in hand.
But Cross was run out at the non-striker’s end when backing up too far and Anya Shrubsole was bowled by spinner Anisa Mohammed (2/24) three balls later to set off jubilant celebrations for the triumphant West Indies side.
Pacer Shamilia Connell (3/38) was the most successful Windies bowler among the eight used by skipper Stephanie Taylor.
Brief Scores : West Indies: 225/6 in 50 overs (Shemaine Campbell 66, Chedan Nation 49, Sophie Ecclestone 3/20) beat England 218 all out in 47.4 overs (Sophie Ecclestone 33 no, Anisa Mohammed 2/24, Shamilia Connell 3/38) by 7 runs.