England launched their new era under head coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt with a commanding eight-wicket win over West Indies in Canterbury, overcoming a stunning unbeaten century by Hayley Matthews in the opening T20I.
Matthews carried her bat through the innings with a valiant 100* off 67 balls — her side’s only major resistance in a faltering batting effort. No other West Indies batter crossed 20, with Mandy Mangru’s 17 the next-best score.
West Indies, after being put in to bat, posted 146/7, largely thanks to Matthews’ masterclass in shot selection and composure under pressure. She struck 12 fours and reached her hundred off the final ball of the innings, scampering a single after clipping Lauren Bell through square.
England’s bowlers were sharp and disciplined throughout. Lauren Bell stood out with 2 for 29, removing Qiana Joseph and Zaida James early to dent West Indies' powerplay hopes.
Debutant Em Arlott, Linsey Smith, and Issy Wong took a wicket apiece, while the fielding unit showed significant improvement, effecting two run-outs, including a clever dismissal of debutante Realeanna Grimmond by Amy Jones.
In response, England chased down the target with 21 balls to spare, thanks to a polished unbeaten 78 by opener Sophia Dunkley and a solid 43* from Heather Knight.
Dunkley, replacing the dropped Maia Bouchier, began aggressively alongside Danni Wyatt-Hodge as the pair added 50 in just 5.2 overs. After quick wickets of Wyatt-Hodge and Sciver-Brunt, England were briefly wobbled at 56/2.
But Dunkley and Knight stitched together an unbroken 91-run stand for the third wicket. Dunkley reached her half-century in 34 balls and was dropped on 62 — a miss that proved costly. Knight accelerated towards the end, hammering three boundaries in four balls off Zaida James before Dunkley fittingly finished the match with a boundary off Cherry-Ann Fraser.
The win not only gives England a 1-0 lead in the series but also signals a strong beginning for their revamped leadership and strategy heading into the summer
