With the series already decided and injury setbacks taking their toll, it would be easy for the West Indies Women to fold. But Jannillea Glasgow is having none of it.
The 21-year-old all-rounder urged her teammates to finish their tour of England on a high with a fearless, all-out performance in the third and final ODI at the County Ground in Somerset on Saturday. First ball is 5:00am Jamaica time.
England, having swept the T20I series 3-0 and currently leading the ODI leg 2-0, will be aiming to complete another clean sweep. But despite missing star captain Hayley Matthews again through injury, Glasgow believes the young West Indies side has both the talent and spirit to deny them.
"It’s windy across the ground, but we had a good session. The wicket has pace, and it’s flat. I think most of us love the pace, so I think we will have a good start whether we bat or bowl first. We have played five games already, so I don’t think it will matter to us if we bat or bowl first. We just have to come hard and end on a high note," Glasgow said.
That spirit was on full display in the second ODI, even as West Indies slumped to a 143-run defeat. Glasgow played one of the innings of the match, smashing a brisk 44 off just 24 balls, including nine boundaries, in a knock that kept West Indies fighting.
"I was prepared from the night before. I was in my groove, dancing and all. I just give God thanks that I was able to execute. When I got to the ground, I was told I’d bat at number six, and I was eager to go out and make it count, which I think I did really well," the St Vincent and the Grenadines native said.
She was not alone, as Guyanese debutante Realeanna Grimmond produced an assured 53 off 72 balls, including four fours and two sixes. Glasgow was full of praise for the 20-year-old newcomer.
"I’m really proud of her. She stood her ground and executed. I bowled to her in the nets and saw she had been working on her backswing and other things, and it really showed. She believed in herself and her abilities, and it worked," Glasgow noted.
Despite the result, the second ODI was historic — the 589-run aggregate was the highest ever in a match between West Indies and England Women. And considering the absence of Matthews and fellow senior batter Deandra Dottin, Glagows believes the West Indies' total of 223 was a mark of resilience.
“Missing two of our more senior players and opening batters, I think we still put up a fight. Myself and Grimmond went out and played fearless cricket. So I think that was a good fight by us, the young girls, and I must say kudos to us. Even though the game didn’t go our way, I am still happy with how we performed," she ended.