England slip to series defeat

Lydia Greenway's experienced knock helped England women to a challenging but ultimately insufficient total at Warner Park

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West Indies beat England by one wicket in the final women's one-day international in St Kitts, to claim the series 2-1.

Set a target of 177 at Warner Park, West Indies recovered from 66 for six to win the match by one wicket thanks to a seventh-wicket partnership of 87 between Stacy-Ann King and Deandra Dottin.

England coach Mark Lane made two changes to the side that beat West Indies by 13 runs on Thursday, with Lydia Greenway back in the side after sitting out the previous match with a thigh strain and Isa Guha also returning.

Charlotte Edwards won the toss and elected to bat. With West Indian pace bowler Shakera Selman opening the bowling, England signalled their intent straight away with a boundary in the first over from Ebony Rainford-Brent.

However, a flurry of quick wickets reduced the world champions to 66 for four.

It was Greenway who dug deep to help steady England's innings and although still suffering from a thigh injury, the 24-year-old left-hander managed a superb 61 from 84 balls to help England to 176 for nine by the end of the innings.

An aggressive start by opening bowlers Katherine Brunt and Guha saw West Indies reduced to two for two.

Holly Colvin got her first wicket of the innings when she trapped Merissa Aguilleira lbw for 14 and her second followed shortly after when Shanel Daley was caught behind for three leaving West Indies looking vulnerable at 57 for four.

Opener Staphanie Taylor was bowled by Edwards for 43 and when Chedean Nation was caught and bowled by Colvin reducing the home side to 66 for six, it was the English supporters in the crowd who looked the more relaxed.

Dottin and King’s seventh wicket stand dragged West Indies back into the game much to the delight of the growing crowd at Warner Park.

Deandra Dottin played a decisive innings to drag West Indies back from the brink at 66 for six chasing 177 in St Kitts

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With England desperately needing a wicket, captain Edwards brought Colvin back into the attack and she was rewarded immediately when King was dismissed for 40 with 24 still needed for victory.

Shemaine Campbelle fell with the score at 157 and Dottin followed soon after to leave Anisa Mohammed and Selman needing 15 more runs for victory.

With five overs left, the West Indies players just had to sit back and wait for loose deliveries rather than having to play attacking cricket and were rewarded for their patience in the 47th over, wrapping up the match and with it the series 2-1.

Edwards congratulated the West Indies on their performance: "I was disappointed with the result today but I don’t want to make excuses for our performance or take anything away from the our opponents.

"They played well and there are some really good players in their team. We've got a Twenty20 series to get ready for now and we'll make sure we come back fighting on Monday."

Lane reflected on the ODI series: "Naturally I'm disappointed to have lost today and to lose the series 2-1 but I have got a very good team of girls who are working hard on all areas of their team.

"Lydia Greenway had a superb knock today and showed tremendous guts to play through her injury. Holly Colvin bowled well and we just lost our way towards to the end of the match.

"We're looking forward to getting back out there again on Monday for the Twenty20 series and giving a good account of ourselves.”

The first Twenty20 match is on Monday at the same ground in Basseterre. The remaining fixtures are on Tuesday and Thursday.