The second T20I between England Women and West Indies Women is all set for May 23, 2025, at the County Ground in Hove, starting at 11:05 PM IST. After a dominant show in the series opener, England will look to seal the series, while West Indies aim to bounce back and keep the contest alive.
In the first match, Hayley Matthews delivered a captain’s knock for the ages, smashing an unbeaten 100 off 67 balls, carrying the West Indies to a competitive 146 for 7. It was a solo effort as the next best came from Mandy Mangru who managed 17, while the rest of the lineup failed to contribute meaningfully.
England’s bowling unit, led by Lauren Bell’s 2 for 29 and Linsey Smith’s 1 for 18, maintained pressure throughout the innings. In response, England chased down the target with ease. Sophia Dunkley stole the spotlight with a commanding 81 not out off 56 balls, well supported by Heather Knight’s 43 not out, guiding their team to an 8-wicket victory with 21 balls to spare.
The result gave England a 1–0 lead in the series and marked a strong start under the leadership of Nat Sciver-Brunt and coach Charlotte Edwards. The teams have now met 30 times in T20Is, with England leading the head-to-head 20–9, while one match ended in a tie.
Squads:
England Women’s Cricket Team
Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Emily Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (wk), Heather Knight, Paige Scholfield, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
West Indies Women’s Cricket Team
Hayley Matthews (C), Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor
Players to watch out:
Sophia Dunkley
The 26-year-old was instrumental in England’s opening T20I success, scoring an unbeaten 81 off 56 balls. Representing Surrey domestically, she has been in outstanding form, amassing 319 runs from just 6 matches, with the highest of 102 not out. Having played 65 T20Is for England, she now has 1067 runs to her name, with her latest knock being her T20I-best.
Emily Arlott
The 27-year-old fast bowler made her England debut in the first T20I and impressed immediately with figures of 1 for 28. She earned her call-up after a brilliant domestic campaign, grabbing 14 wickets in 7 matches for Warwickshire in the Women’s One Day Cup, with best figures of 4 for 61. Known for her effectiveness with both the new ball and at the death, Arlott adds depth to England’s pace arsenal.
Qiana Joseph
The 24-year-old managed just 2 runs in the first T20I but has shown explosive potential in previous outings. In a T20I series against Bangladesh earlier this year, she struck scores of 29 and 63. Despite a dip in the ODI World Cup Qualifiers—posting scores of 0, 4, 31, 26, and 2—Joseph remains a dangerous batter. She has featured in 22 T20Is and has scored 360 runs, with a top score of 63.
Afy Fletcher
The experienced 38-year-old leg-spinner removed England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt in the first game, returning figures of 1 for 27 in 3 overs. Fletcher was consistent in the ODI World Cup Qualifiers, recording figures of 0/56, 1/39, 2/39, 2/43, and 4/20. A veteran of 94 T20Is, she has taken 91 wickets, with a career-best of 5 for 13. Her ability to control the middle overs makes her vital to West Indies’ plans.
Pitch:
The County Ground in Hove generally supports batters with its flat surface and consistent bounce, offering an average first innings score of 131. Seamers can find some help with the new ball, especially under lights. The team winning the toss is likely to opt to chase, in line with the ground’s recent trend.
Weather:
The forecast predicts partly cloudy skies on match day, with the temperature expected around 14°C. Humidity will hover around 75%, with a 20% chance of rain, and winds at 24 kph, which could aid swing bowlers during the powerplay.
Fantasy XI Picks:
Amy Jones, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong, Zaida James, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Linsey Smith, Alice Capsey, Afy Fletcher, Charlie Dean, Lauren Bell
Match details:
Date – May 23, 2025
Time – 11:05 PM IST
Venue – County Ground, Hove
Live Streaming – Sony Liv App and Sony Ten Sports Network
