A refreshed England side got their new era under way with an eight-wicket victory against the West Indies in the first T20I in Canterbury.
Former England captain Heather Knight (43no) and opener Sophia Dunkley (81no) shared a match-winning 91-run partnership which saw the hosts comfortably chase West Indies’ 146-7 with 3.3 overs to spare.
By the 17th over, England only required seven runs from 24 balls with Knight hitting a boundary and Dunkley guiding her 12th boundary through the covers to seal the deal.
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews (100no) fronted the batting resistance after being inserted, hitting 16 boundaries and one six before reaching her third T20I century off the final ball of the innings, despite wickets regularly tumbling.
Lauren Bell (2-29) was the pick of England’s bowlers, striking twice in three balls in the powerplay, whilst debutant Em Arlott (1-28) claimed her first international scalp as the tourists lost five of their batters in single figures and were unable to post a defendable total.
England will look to win the series in the second T20I in Hove on Friday, May 23, live on Sky Sports Cricket.
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Hayley Matthews completes a stunning century off the final ball of West Indies’ innings against England
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England Women’s summer fixtures
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T20 international series vs West Indies (May)
- First T20I, Canterbury: England beat West Indies by eight wickets
- Second T20I: Friday May 23 (6.35pm) – Hove
- Third T20I: Monday May 26 (2.30pm) – Chelmsford
One-day international series vs West Indies (May-June)
- First ODI: Friday May 30 (1pm) – Derby
- Second ODI: Wednesday June 4 (1pm) – Leicester
- Third ODI: Saturday June 7 (11am) – Taunton
T20 international series vs India (June-July)
- First T20I: Saturday June 28 (2.30pm) – Trent Bridge
- Second T20I: Tuesday July 1 (6.30pm) – Bristol
- Third T20I: Friday July 4 (6.35pm) – The Kia Oval
- Fourth T20I: Wednesday July 9 (6.30pm) – Emirates Old Trafford
- Fifth T20I: Saturday July 12 (6.35pm) – Edgbaston
One-day international series vs India (July)
- First ODI: Wednesday July 16 (1pm) – Southampton
- Second ODI: Saturday July 19 (11am) – Lord’s
- Third ODI: Tuesday July 22 (1pm) – Chester-le-Street
Watch England’s second T20I international against West Indies live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 6pm on Friday (6.35pm first ball). Stream cricket with NOW
