England beat the West Indies by 151 points in the third and final One Day International in Antigua to complete a dominating 3-0 series win.
Nat Sciver hit 85 of 69 balls as England were knocked out for 256.
It was an enhanced bowling display from the hosts – Hayley Matthews and Shakera Selman taking three wickets apiece.
But their batter let them down once more as they were dismissed for just 105 in 37.3 overs, England spinner Sophie Ecclestone claiming 3-9.
West Indies finished at nine as number 11 Selman did not strike due to injury.
For the second game in a row, England were knocked out inside their 50 overs despite winning the draw.
However, the game followed the same trend as the first two as what seemed like a sub-par total turned out to be abundant with another solid bowling performance.
Both teams will advance to the first of five Twenty20s on Sunday at 22:00 GMT.
Superb Sciver shines again
The versatile Sciver said she had hit “boiling point” after Commonwealth Games in August, leading to a break from cricket until she returned with a sublime 90 in the first ODI in Antigua.
She is now reaping the rewards of that break. Marking her second half-century in the series, she took her ODI run tally for the year to 833 – surpassing Claire Taylor’s record for an England woman of 807 in 2005.
It has been a turbulent year for the English top order. Tammy Beaumont has had four different opening partners throughout the year, Sophia Dunkley is still learning her trade at number three and captain Heather Knight has been out for several months due to injury.
Here Beaumont and Emma Lamb went 63 for the first wicket before England slipped to 84-4, spinner Kaysia Schultz taking two wickets on her international debut.
Once again Sciver was the rock for England, scoring heavily with the sweeping stroke as she struck 10 fours and put in a fifth wicket stand of 90 with Danni Wyatt (35 from 41), ahead of Amy Jones, captain in place of the rested knight, added 32 steps out.
Sciver’s frustration was evident as she didn’t reach a century dragging on her stumps, but she also made an impact with the ball, taking it 2-16 from four overs.
His fine return to international cricket is a welcome boost for England ahead of the T20 and Ashes World Cup next year.
A sorry streak for Windies drummers
The West Indies can be satisfied with their improvements in the area of this series. After conceding 307 in the first ODI with a sloppy performance, they knocked out England in the next two, with promising signs from Matthews, Selman and spinners Schultz and Afy Fletcher.
Still, the stick was a struggle – Rashada Williams’ half-century in the second ODI was their only individual score over 40 in the series.
They’re too dependent on fly-half Matthews to run errands. She showed glimpses in all of her innings but couldn’t continue to score big and here fell for 28 thanks to a magnificent one-handed sliding catch by Ecclestone off Kate Cross.
The hosts slipped 65-5, losing three wickets without a run at one point as Sciver pulled Kycia Knight and Williams off, while Charlie Dean lost Aaliyah Alleyne.
Ecclestone then moved through the middle and lower order, his notable spell including six maidens in nine overs.
Against a West Indies side that lack the depth-of-striking strength to rival England, it’s hard to assess where England’s attack is ahead of a key year in 2023, but there is has clear positives.
Cross continues to thrive in his leading role in attack, young spinner Dean finished as the series’ top wicket-taker with seven, and Lauren Bell’s four-wicket carry in the second ODI showed potential .
The T20 series could benefit the West Indies more – they were T20 world champions in 2016 – but, unless their hitters step in, there will be another five tough games ahead.
