Latest news with #Dunkley
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
England overcome Hayley Matthews magic to launch new era in style
New era, new England. If it was a defeat to the West Indies that brought down one regime, the disastrous T20 World Cup exit precipitating the Ashes debacle and fall of the Jon Lewis/Heather Knight axis, then a comprehensive win over the same opposition marked a perfect start to life under Charlotte Edwards. Of course, convincing home victories are not a fresh phenomenon for a side that tends to go well here regardless of the opposition, but the manner in which they dismissed a dangerous visiting side was nonetheless impressive. It came despite one of the great T20 innings from Hayley Matthews, who has come to trade in such things. The West Indies skipper almost single-handedly dragged her team to a total of 146/7 with a hundred of masterful strokeplay and structure, not so much playing on a different pitch to her teammates but a different sport. The sterner tests of England's growth will come at the World Cup in India later his year but this was a positive, tentative step in the right direction under Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. There was energy and application in the field and shrewd use of five bowlers by the skipper, unable to bowl herself as she nurses an achilles issue. The magical Matthews could not be contained but her colleagues mustered just 40 from 53 balls, illustrating the control England maintained over proceedings. It set up a chase made in relative comfort, with a dashing Sophia Dunkley (81*) and liberated Knight (43*) surviving a couple of scares to cruise home after Danni Wyatt-Hodge and the new leader had perished early. Dunkley has begun the season in superb form in the revamped domestic structure, scores of 92, 102 and 79 made in quick succession to set up this enterprising knock – a pleasing sign after another key tweak in this new age of English women's cricket. The 26-year-old is yet to truly fulfil her potential at international level but feels the sort of player who could thrive under Edwards. A final stroke of real elegance, her 12th boundary, through the offside secured success with 21 balls to spare. 'It was great to start the summer off with a win,' Dunkley, elevated into the leadership group ahead of this series, said. 'Lottie has come in as a really calm person and really clear with what we want to do. I wanted to come out and contribute to the team, try to impact the game as much as possible. It was a good night. Heather has been outstanding around the group, nothing has really changed much on that front.' More radical changes to the England XI may be on the way after the World Cup later this year but there were a few subtle changes in the first team named by Edwards. Under a new selection strategy, the wider squad was picked by the new coach and her old middle-order mucker Lydia Greenway, appointed as national selector, with Sciver-Brunt providing more limited input and then influential on matchday. A T20I debut for Em Arlott, a bowler England have long liked, felt overdue, while a recall for Issy Wong was welcome after her run-up troubles over the last couple of years. Qiana Joseph had been England's dismantler in chief in Dubai last October, tonking England repeatedly to the boundary with a somewhat old-school display of leg-side lumping aided by some woeful catching. The opener lasted just four balls here, though, an attempted turn into the on-side catching a leading edge and settling in the hands of Linsey Smith in the offside ring off the bowling of Lauren Bell. When the tall quick extracted an edge from Zaida James with extra bounce to take a second in the over, the West Indies were in a spot of bother. Fortunately, they have one of the world's best batters on which to call. Hayley Matthews at times has to carry the Caribbean on her back – as shown in World Cup qualifying, where the skipper left the field on a stretcher before returning to complete a remarkable hundred that ultimately proved in vain during a costly defeat to Scotland. The tournament will be poorer for her absence; highlights here included a lovely lifted sweep for six off Smith and three boundaries in a row from the bowling of Dean. Misfortune befell her latest partner, debutant Realeanna Grimmond run out searching for a second not knowing the ball was already in the hands of wicketkeeper Amy Jones. With no Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin or Chinelle Henry in the side to support the skipper, the visitors' batting line-up looked thin, and Shabika Gajnabi and Aaliyah Alleyne followed soon enough. A bullet arm from Wong on the square leg boundary, summing up England's new attitude and application, accounted for Jannillea Glasgow. And so it was left to the slender Bajan shoulders of Matthews to haul the West Indies to something competitive again. And how she heaved, an unbeaten 100 made in marvellous style without undue risk as all around her crumbled. It was the second time she had made more than 67% of her side's runs in a completed T20I innings. It is fair to wonder what she might be able to do with a little more support but her individual brilliance could not spoil an excellent launch event for England's new era.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dunkley stars as England beat Windies in first T20
First T20, Canterbury West Indies 146-7 (20 overs): Matthews 100* (67); Bell 2-29 England 150-2 (16.3 overs): Dunkley 81* (56); Fletcher 1-27 England won by eight wickets; lead series 1-0 Scorecard England's new era under captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and coach Charlotte Edwards started with a comfortable eight-wicket win in the first T20 against West Indies in Canterbury. The tourists posted 146-7 after captain Hayley Matthews' superb unbeaten century, but England made light work of the chase by reaching the target in 16.3 overs thanks to Sophia Dunkley's brilliant 81 not out from 55 balls. Sciver-Brunt fell for a duck in her first match as permanent skipper, but her predecessor Heather Knight finished 43 not out alongside opener Dunkley. Matthews' sensational solo effort held West Indies together, with Mandy Mangru's 17 the second-highest score after they had slipped to a dismal 87-6. She reached her 67-ball ton from the final ball of the innings, having expertly farmed the strike as the wickets tumbled around her, with England's Lauren Bell taking 2-29. England's new-look bowling attack after their Ashes humiliation included a recall for fast bowler Issy Wong, who took 1-35, while fellow seamer Em Arlott performed admirably with 1-28 on her international debut. The three-match T20 series continues at Hove on Friday, and is followed by three one-day internationals. More to follow. Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Express Tribune
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Eng eye WC2026 glory on home soil
This will be the first women's ICC tournament in England since the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 2017. Reuters Excitement is building as the 10th edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup returns to England in 2026. Prominent cricketing personalities converged at a launch event at Lord's last week to confirm the dates and venues for the global mega-event. This will be the first women's ICC tournament in England since the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 2017. In that tournament, the hosts managed to overcome India in a thrilling final to win the title. Like the 2017 World Cup, the 2026 T20 World Cup will also have the final staged at the prestigious Lord's Cricket Ground in London. England stars Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Ecclestone were among the attendees for the T20 World Cup launch event and the pair recalled the 2017 tournament with much excitement. 'Having watched 2017, there's no other kind of bigger motivation than to want to do it myself and inspire lots of young girls and boys to play cricket themselves,' Dunkley said, when discussing what it would mean to walk out on the pitch for England next year. 'So it would be incredibly special. And yeah, something that you kind of dream of growing up.' Dunkley was one of those present in the jam-packed stadium during England's afternoon of magic eight years ago, wherein they halted a cruising India, who were 191/3 in pursuit of 229 at one stage, to take the title decider by nine runs. 'In 2017, I was seated in the stand, I think somewhere over there on the right (pointing), and what a great occasion it was,' Dunkley said. The win bore greater significance since Dunkley was a young cricketer on the verge of her international debut, which she eventually made in 2018. 'I think it was really inspiring for me as a player, kind of coming through the pathways and really wanting to be involved in that team,' she added. 'And it was really special for me to watch that, and then be part of the England team later on that year was something incredible. 'So to have a home World Cup, to have watched it in the crowd and to have a competition like that to look forward to next year is really, really special.' Ecclestone, the leader in the ICC Women's Bowling Rankings in both white-ball formats, was already an England international when she watched the 2017 final from the stands. Ecclestone, then just a teenager, recalled fond memories of watching Heather Knight's side claim the final. 'My memories were of the day that I was sat up there watching with (English cricketer) Ellie Threlkeld, actually. I'd just finished school,' Ecclestone said. 'It was great to watch the girls win here.' Speaking about the upcoming 2026 event, which would be the left-arm spinner's first-ever home World Cup, Ecclestone wanted to soak in the joy of playing at prestigious home venues. 'I feel like I've played World Cups all around the world now, and it's going to be so exciting to play at home, play here at Lord's, play at Old Trafford. I think it's really exciting,' she added. ICC
Int'l Cricket Council
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
England duo out to copy 2017 heroics at home T20 World Cup
Excitement is building as the 10th edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup returns to England in 2026. Prominent cricketing personalities converged at a launch event at Lord's last week to confirm the dates and venues for the global mega-event. This will be the first women's ICC tournament in England since the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 2017. #WWC17 FINAL: England Winning moment Let the celebrations begin as England claim the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 2017 In that tournament, the hosts managed to overcome India in a thrilling final to win the title. Like the 2017 World Cup, the 2026 T20 World Cup will also have the final staged at the prestigious Lord's Cricket Ground in London. England stars Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Ecclestone were among the attendees for the T20 World Cup launch event and the pair recalled the 2017 tournament with much excitement. 'Having watched 2017, there's no other kind of bigger motivation than to want to do it myself and inspire lots of young girls and boys to play cricket themselves,' Dunkley said, when discussing what it would mean to walk out on the pitch for England next year. 'So it would be incredibly special. And yeah, something that you kind of dream of growing up.' #WWC17 Final: England lift their fourth World Cup title England hold aloft the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup trophy following their success against India in the final Dunkley was one of those present in the jam-packed stadium during England's afternoon of magic eight years ago, wherein they halted a cruising India, who were 191/3 in pursuit of 229 at one stage, to take the title decider by nine runs. 'In 2017, I was seated in the stand, I think somewhere over there on the right (pointing), and what a great occasion it was,' Dunkley said. Highlights: Sophia Dunkley scores a swift 60 Sophia Dunkley in fine form for England at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 2022 The win bore greater significance since Dunkley was a young cricketer on the verge of her international debut, which she eventually made in 2018. 'I think it was really inspiring for me as a player, kind of coming through the pathways and really wanting to be involved in that team,' she added. 'And it was really special for me to watch that, and then be part of the England team later on that year was something incredible. 'So to have a home World Cup, to have watched it in the crowd and to have a competition like that to look forward to next year is really, really special.' Best of Sophie Ecclestone | WT20WC 2024 England spinner Sophie Ecclestone shone with the ball at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2024 Ecclestone, the leader in the ICC Women's Bowling Rankings in both white-ball formats , was already an England international when she watched the 2017 final from the stands. Ecclestone, then just a teenager, recalled fond memories of watching Heather Knight's side claim the final. 'My memories were of the day that I was sat up there watching with (English cricketer) Ellie Threlkeld, actually. I'd just finished school,' Ecclestone said. 'It was great to watch the girls win here.' Speaking about the upcoming 2026 event, which would be the left-arm spinner's first-ever home World Cup, Ecclestone wanted to soak in the joy of playing at prestigious home venues. 'I feel like I've played World Cups all around the world now, and it's going to be so exciting to play at home, play here at Lord's, play at Old Trafford. I think it's really exciting,' she added. ICC Women's T20 World Cup, 2026 News Women's News Sophia Dunkley 07/16/1998 Sophie Ecclestone 05/06/1999 England Women
Business Recorder
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Recorder
A Minute With: composer Hans Zimmer and conductor Matt Dunkley on new tour
LONDON: From 'The Lion King' to 'Inception', fans will be able to hear live versions of the much-loved works of film score composer Hans Zimmer in a new 24-city arena tour across North America this fall. Following a European run last year, 'The World of Hans Zimmer – A New Dimension' kicks off in Sunrise, Florida, on September 5 and wraps up in Vancouver on October 11. Though Zimmer will not perform, the two-time Oscar winner is the tour's curator and musical director and the shows will feature new arrangements of his works synchronised to film clips. Vindication at last for woman who posed as man to join British magicians' club Orchestrator and longtime Zimmer collaborator Matt Dunkley will take to the stage alongside an orchestra, soloists and others to perform the composer's music. In an interview with Reuters, Zimmer and Dunkley spoke about the tour and audience favourites. Below are excerpts edited for length and clarity. Q: What does it mean to bring this show to U.S. audiences? Zimmer: 'I really want them to come and see what an orchestra can do. That an orchestra isn't just some old-fashioned stale thing, that they can rock out like nobody's business.' Dunkley: 'And I think… especially as a younger generation, a lot of them are scared of… maybe going into a concert hall or an opera house because they think 'maybe that's not for me'. But they come and see our shows and see that… this orchestra can be really rocking out with our band… and then suddenly it becomes a thing that they're not scared of. And they've realized actually… every time they go and see a movie or play a video game, that they're listening to this amazing sound palette that is the symphony orchestra.' Q: Can you tell us more about the show? Dunkley: 'It's a more… symphonic show… We still have some rocky elements… We have keyboards, we have guitar, we've amazing soloists as well, brilliant percussionists and drummers. But… the orchestra's a little larger, so the feature is more of a symphonic sound rather than a kind of rock and roll show.' Q: How did the tours come about? Zimmer: 'I didn't want to go and do it, this was 10 years ago. And there came a day where Johnny Marr from The Smiths and (singer) Pharrell Williams… sat me down… and they gave me the big talk how… I owed it to an audience to not always hide behind a screen. And I kept saying 'No but I've got stage fright…' and all that stuff. Needless to say, they were persuasive.' Q: Are there any audience favourites? Zimmer: 'They love 'Gladiator'. They love 'Pirates of the Caribbean'… 'Dune' is a big hit at the moment… 'Interstellar', 'Inception'.' Dunkley: ''Lion King', always.' Zimmer: 'Yeah, 'Lion King'… how could I forget?'
