England breeze past Windies to reach Women’s T20 World Cup semis

England eased into the semifinals of the Women’s T20 World Cup with a 46-run victory over West Indies in Sydney.

Nat Sciver built a winning platform with her third halfcentury of the tournament as England made 143 for five before spinners Sophie Ecclestone (three for seven) and Sarah Glenn (two for 16) wrapped up matters in comprehensive fashion.

West Indies managed just 97 for nine in their reply from 17.1 overs, with captain Stefanie Taylor forced to retire hurt on 15 and unable to return.

England won the toss at the Sydney Showground and moved Tammy Beaumont up the order to open instead of Amy Jones.

But Beaumont’s promotion backfired as she was dismissed lbw to the fourth ball of the innings from Shakera Selman for nought.

Danni Wyatt and Sciver responded positively to that setback to reach 39 for one at the end of the six-over powerplay. Wyatt had made 29 from 27 balls when Selman took a brilliant catch diving forward at long-off from an Anisa Mohammed delivery. West Indies produced a disciplined bowling performance, but Sciver and Heather Knight were beginning to accelerate when disaster struck.

Knight attempted to take a quick single, but she did not dive into the crease and was left stranded by Selman’s direct hit from mid-wicket. Fran Wilson quickly holed out to Hayley Matthews for three and England were in need of a fast finish at 97 for four in the 16th over.

Sciver provided late impetus before falling for 57 but Jones (23 not out) and Katherine Brunt (10 not out) steered England to the best score of the competition at the Sydney Showground.

UPDATED SCOTLAND SQUAD FORWARDS (21): Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Jamie Bhatti (Edinburgh), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Fraser Brown (Glasgow), Lewis Carmichael (Edinburgh), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Allan Dell (London Irish), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Tom Gordon (Glasgow), Nick Haining (Edinburgh), Stuart Mcinally (Edinburgh), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs), Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), George Turner (Glasgow), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)

BACKS (16): Chris Harris (Gloucester), Adam Hastings (Glasgow), Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, capt), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Sam Johnson (Glasgow), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Byron Mcguigan (Sale Sharks), Ali Price (Glasgow), Henry Pyrgos (Edinburgh), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow), Ratu Tagive (Glasgow), Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors).