England start Charlotte Edwards reign by exacting revenge on West Indies
England ushered in the start of the Charlotte Edwards era by banishing a few World Cup demons against the West Indies.
At the T20 World Cup in the autumn, England were knocked out by the West Indies in the group stage, dropping five catches in the process. The pressure between a global event and a bilateral T20 match at Canterbury cannot be directly compared, but the hosts eased to the first victory under Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt by eight wickets.
Admittedly, it was the two best players from the T20 series in Australia, former captain Heather Knight (43) and Sophia Dunkley (77) , who steered England to victory with more than three overs to spare.
A GLORIOUS shot from Sophia Dunkley 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hBpj1jHt7m
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 21, 2025
It is a different country and different conditions, but when they elected to bowl at the start of the match, England looked a different outfit to the one who capitulated Down Under.
Sciver-Brunt completed a ridiculous run-out that showed all of Realeanna Grimmond's inexperience. The West Indies batter had made her ground, then wandered out as the new England captain took a throw over the non-striker's end and whipped the bails off.
England have their third wicket 🏴Realeanna Grimmond wanders out of her crease after running a single. pic.twitter.com/XvQbZY0vAB
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 21, 2025
'It was great to start off with a win tonight to start the summer off,' Dunkley said after the match. 'It's been really exciting [working with Edwards]. I know what she wants me to do, just to hit straight and take the game on. Just keep it really simple and that's what I tried to do tonight.'
Lauren Bell took a fantastic catch, and the only chance that was not taken was objectively a difficult effort with one hand.
WHAT A CATCH FROM LAUREN BELL! 😱 pic.twitter.com/Jgots09ccq
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 21, 2025
There were two run-outs and five catches as the West Indies put on 146 for seven from their 20 overs, although their standout player, Hayley Matthews, struck a stunning century.
England had no answer to Matthews, but the new and returned bowling attack of Linsey Smith, Charlie Dean, Issy Wong, debutant Emily Arlott and Bell managed to strike at the other end and prevent the total rising.
Edwards had said in the pre-match press conference that the side had been working on their fielding, and it was clear to see that something had changed from Melbourne just a few months ago, when eight catches were put down in a single day of Test cricket, as England lost by an innings to seal a whitewash 16-0 defeat.
It would be too much to look at one game and suggest that all of England's problems have been solved, especially against a below-strength West Indies side, but it is clear that the tide has at least started to turn.
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