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Six months after their thrilling encounter in the 2024 T20 World Cup, England Women and West Indies Women clash again in the second match of their 2025 series. This time, it’s at Hove, a venue known for its passionate support for women’s cricket. England Women will be eager to wrap up the series after securing an impressive eight-wicket win in the opener. West Indies Women, on the other hand, are determined to bounce back and level the series, led by the ever-reliable Hayley Matthews.
With both teams fielding debutants in the previous game and conditions expected to favor bowlers due to overcast skies and low temperatures, this promises to be a tightly contested battle between bat and ball.
Match Details
| Match | England Women vs West Indies Women – Match 2 |
|---|---|
| Date | May 24, 2025 |
| Venue | County Ground, Hove |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST / 3:00 PM Local Time |
| Toss Timing | Around 7:15 PM IST |
| Weather Forecast | Overcast, 13°C, No Rain |
Team Preview – England Women
England Women started their new era under captain Nat Sciver-Brunt with a dominant performance in the first match against West Indies Women. They restricted the opposition to 146/7 before chasing it down comfortably with eight wickets and 21 balls to spare. Sophia Dunkley was the star with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 81 off 56 balls, while Heather Knight provided a quickfire 43* off 27 deliveries. Although Sciver-Brunt had a forgettable start as skipper with a two-ball duck, her leadership will be crucial in this match.
The bowling department was led by Lauren Bell, who took 2 wickets in her 4 overs while maintaining a tight economy rate. Linsey Smith also chipped in with a wicket and showed control during the middle overs. With Sophie Ecclestone still unavailable, England will rely heavily on Bell and Smith to provide breakthroughs and contain runs.
Key players like Alice Capsey and Em Arlott offer all-round value, contributing with both bat and ball. The team looks well-balanced, with depth in batting and a solid pace attack. If they maintain consistency and avoid top-order collapses, England should comfortably clinch the series here.
Team Preview – West Indies Women
West Indies Women enter this match knowing they must improve significantly after a below-par batting performance in the first game. Despite Hayley Matthews’ heroic century (100* off 67 balls), no other batter managed more than 17 as the team posted only 146/7. While her innings was a masterclass in anchoring a T20 chase, the lack of support from the rest of the batting lineup remains a concern.
Their bowling unit did manage to pick up two wickets through Zaida James and Afy Fletcher but failed to build pressure or restrict the flow of runs. Jannillea Glasgow, with her pace and aggression, could play a key role if used wisely in death overs. However, inconsistency and lack of experience remain issues across the side.
Hayley Matthews is not just the captain but also the fulcrum of the team, often carrying the burden of performances on her shoulders. Unless the likes of Qiana Joseph and Shabika Gajnabi step up with the bat, and the bowlers show better discipline, West Indies may find themselves outplayed once again.
They have enough talent to turn things around, especially with the ball, but need to bring greater cohesion and resilience to this match to stand any chance of levelling the series.
Favourite Team to Win Today
| Favourite Team | Reason |
|---|---|
| England Women | England started the series strongly with a convincing eight-wicket win. Their batting was solid, led by Sophia Dunkley and Heather Knight, and their bowling was disciplined. West Indies struggled with the bat, relying too much on Hayley Matthews. Given England’s balanced squad, home advantage, and favorable toss conditions, they are strong favorites to win again and seal the series. |
Fantasy Team XI
| Player Name | Team | Role | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia Dunkley | England | Top Order Batsman | Star performer in last match with 81*, aggressive style |
| Hayley Matthews | West Indies | Captain/All-Rounder | Century in last game, can also bowl, massive fantasy potential |
| Heather Knight | England | Middle Order | Quickfire 43* in last game, experienced and impactful |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | England | Captain/All-Rounder | New leader, good track record, valuable runs and leadership points |
| Zaida James | West Indies | Bowler | Took 1 wicket and bowled economically, likely to get early wickets |
| Lauren Bell | England | Pacer | Key wicket-taker, economical and threatening |
| Linsey Smith | England | Spinner | Controlled bowling, picked up 1 wicket, ideal for containment |
| Alice Capsey | England | All-Rounder | Can score quickly and contribute with the ball |
| Em Arlott | England | All-Rounder | Valuable lower-middle order presence, useful with the ball |
| Jannillea Glasgow | West Indies | Pacer | Fast bowler, can create pressure in powerplay or death overs |
| Shabika Gajnabi | West Indies | Middle Order | Needs to perform, but has potential to deliver fantasy points if promoted |
Explanation:
This Fantasy XI blends top performers from the previous match with potential impact players. Hayley Matthews and Sophia Dunkley are must-haves due to their recent form. Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith offer bowling stability, while all-rounders like Alice Capsey and Em Arlott add flexibility. Don’t ignore Jannillea Glasgow for fast-bowling threat.
Captain & Vice-Captain Suggestions
| Category | Player Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Sophia Dunkley | England |
| Vice-Captain | Hayley Matthews | West Indies |
Sophia Dunkley was the standout player in the last match, scoring 81* and showing great intent. She’s in form and likely to open the innings aggressively.
Hayley Matthews , despite being on the losing side, scored a brilliant 100* and is always a match-winner. Her all-round ability makes her a perfect vice-captain.
Players to Avoid in Fantasy Teams
| Player Name | Reason |
|---|---|
| Mandy Mangru | Scored 17 in last match, lacks consistency and big scores |
| Karishma Ramharack | Didn’t take a wicket, didn’t score many runs, low impact |
Mandy Mangru hasn’t shown the ability to convert starts into big scores recently, while Karishma Ramharack had a quiet outing with neither bat nor ball in the last match.
Team Squads
England Women Squad
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Heather Knight, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Em Arlott, Issy Wong, Charlie Dean, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
West Indies Women Squad
- Qiana Joseph, Hayley Matthews (c), Zaida James, Realeanna Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Aaliyah Alleyne, Jannillea Glasgow, Mandy Mangru (wk), Cherry-Ann Fraser, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack
Probable Playing XI Table
| England XI | West Indies XI |
|---|---|
| Danni Wyatt-Hodge | Qiana Joseph |
| Sophia Dunkley | Hayley Matthews (C) |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt (C) | Zaida James |
| Heather Knight | Realeanna Grimmond |
| Amy Jones (WK) | Shabika Gajnabi |
| Alice Capsey | Aaliyah Alleyne |
| Em Arlott | Jannillea Glasgow |
| Issy Wong | Mandy Mangru (WK) |
| Charlie Dean | Cherry-Ann Fraser |
| Linsey Smith | Afy Fletcher |
| Lauren Bell | Karishma Ramharack |
Pitch Report
The pitch at Hove is typically flat and batsmen-friendly, offering minimal assistance to spinners. Pacers can exploit movement early on, especially with the sea breeze coming in. The average score here is around 155, and batting first under overcast conditions could prove advantageous. As the evening progresses, dew might come into play, making it slightly easier for the chasing side.
Toss Prediction
Prediction: Toss will be won by England Women , who will choose to bowl first .
Given the cloudy conditions and chilly temperatures, both teams will prefer to chase. However, England may opt to set a target, allowing them to assess the pitch and adjust accordingly in the second innings.
Winner Prediction
Predicted Winner: England Women
England Women looked in complete control during the opening match, dominating both with bat and ball. West Indies relied entirely on Hayley Matthews’ brilliance, which may not be sustainable. With England’s stronger team balance, better depth, and home advantage, they are firm favorites to win again and clinch the series 2-0.
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