Nat Sciver fires England past West Indies and into T20 World Cup semis

England sailed through to the semi‑finals of the T20 World Cup on Sunday in Sydney after beating West Indies by 46 runs.

A third tournament half-century from Nat Sciver led the way while a gutsy 13-ball, 23-run cameo from Amy Jones – demoted from the opening position she has occupied for the past year – ensured England’s strongest finish of the tournament, hitting 36 runs from the last three overs of their innings to finish on 143 for five.

The captain went on to praise Jones’s display: “Amy’s had a few low scores so we wanted to change something, and she showed amazing character in her innings.”

England’s young spin attack, which was bolstered by the World Cup debut of the 21-year-old Mady Villiers, between them bowled West Indies out for 97 in 17.1 overs, Sophie Ecclestone finishing with phenomenal figures of three for seven from her 3.1 overs.

“I’m really happy with how I’m bowling and I just hope it continues,” Ecclestone said. “With Sarah Glenn and now Mady in the team, it’s really nice to have spin companionship. Tonight I just needed to keep it simple and bowl my best ball. When I’ve got pressure on me I perform at my best.”

The victory means England are likely to finish second in their group behind South Africa and therefore face the winner of Group A, India, in their semi-final at the SCG on Thursday. West Indies, meanwhile, are out of the tournament with one match left to play

West Indies’ reply was dented early when Deandra Dottin, promoted to the opening spot, fell in the third over before disaster struck in the eighth, when Stafanie Taylor suffered a groin injury and had to be carried off on a stretcher. The captain will be unavailable for their remaining group match, against South Africa on Tuesday.

Three further wickets then fell with the score on 42 – Villiers opening up her account in World Cup cricket with a wicket maiden – and Glenn played a part in England’s first ever successful DRS review when UltraEdge showed Chedean Nation had edged the ball to Jones behind the stumps.

Though Lee-Ann Kirby showed some fight for West Indies, thrashing two sixes over long-on, she eventually fell to Anya Shrubsole in the 15th over, and the rest felt like a mere formality for England.

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