Williams to stand in ICC Women’s qualifiers
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Regional female umpire Jacqueline Williams has described the appointment to stand in next month’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup qualifiers, as a major stepping stone in her career.
The 40-year-old has already stood in the ICC World T20 women’s qualifiers, the ICC Division 5 tournament along with the Regional first class championship and Regional Super50, and sees the latest appointment as a critical development in her career.
“I’m delighted to be named among the umpires for this tournament. It’s a major tournament in women’s cricket with some of the best players in the world,” said Williams, the lone female on the senior regional umpires’ panel.
“All the appointments I have been on are stepping stones and I have welcomed all with open arms. I always find something to work on and improve. There is a lot to learn as an umpire.”
She added: “Going to Sri Lanka, I have been doing my homework, looking at the conditions, the weather and other aspects of the game so I know what to expect before I reach there. It’s somewhere different but I’m happy to be involved and hoping to give my very best.”
Williams is one of two regional umpires set for the tournament with 27-year-old Leslie Reifer Jr also named to stand in the February 7-21 qualifiers.
He became one of the youngest ever international umpires last year when he debuted in the Twenty20 Series in Florida, United States between West Indies and India.
“This is my first tournament with the ICC so I am really looking forward to it – the experience of standing in an international tournament, as well the culture and atmosphere of Sri Lanka,” the Barbadian said.
“For me this is a major step in my career. I value every opportunity I get to stand at any level of the game. Women’s cricket is growing rapidly in the West Indies and all around the world, and the standard of play is very high. I am hoping to learn more about the game contribute in a meaningful way.”
Women’s Cricket World Cup qualifiers is a 10-team tournament to decide the last four teams for the Women’s World Cup, from June 26 to July 23 in England.
West Indies Women, along with Australia, England, New Zealand, have already qualified for the showpiece. KANPUR, India,(Reuters) - Skipper Eoin Morgan and batting mainstay Joe Root engineered England’s easy chase to secure their sevenwicket victory against India in the first Twenty20 International on Thursday.
Beaten in the preceding test and one-day series, England showed discipline with the ball to stifle India’s vaunted batting order, restricting them to a modest 147-7 at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.
The visitors then returned to overhaul their opponents’ target with 11 balls to spare, with Morgan hitting a fluent 51 and Root producing a runa-ball 46 not out.
The teams now move to Nagpur for the second Twenty20 of the three-match series on Sunday.
After Morgan won the toss and opted to field, his bowlers stuck to impeccable line and length, rarely allowing the home batsmen to free their arms, with only one lone six being hit in the entire Indian innings.
Opening the innings with Lokesh Rahul, home captain Virat Kohli made 29 but with no width to play with the Indian batsmen were straitjacketed at the crease.
Suresh Raina made a brisk 34 before exposing his legstump which was pegged back by a full-length Chris Jordan delivery.
With the boundaries drying up, former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to nudge the ball around hoping for a late assault which never came.
Dhoni finished unbeaten on 36, repeatedly trying to clear the boundary as India fell short of the 150-mark.
Morgan did not need a sixth bowler, which meant leg-spinner Adil Rashid had no chance to attack the Indian batsmen.
Jason Roy (19) and Sam Billings (22) gave England a flying start, raising 42 runs before left-arm spinner Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed both the openers in the fourth over of the English innings.
Morgan and Root then batted India out of the contest with their 83-run partnership.
Morgan’s fourth six brought up his fifty but the England captain holed out in the very next delivery from Parvez Rasool.
Root was bowled twice in two balls from Jaspreet Bumrah — the first off a noball and the second one was a free-hit — allowing him to stay put and complete his team’s emphatic victory.