Cricket World Cup: England beaten by West Indies in Dunedin

England were beaten by seven runs by the West Indies in the Women's World Cup in New Zealand.

The defending champion missed six chances in the field, conceded 23 runs in wides, and made a mess of chasing 226 for their second loss in as many games.

They were given hope by a ninth-wicket stand of 61 between Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone, but they were run out backing-up for 27.

The West Indies won their first game at the World Cup when number 11 Anya Shrubsole was taken out by Anisa Mohammed.

A stand of 123 between Shemaine Campbelle and Chedean Nation lifted the West Indies to 225-6.

Even though West Indies dropped three catches, they squeezed England for a famous win.

With the top four from the eight-team group going through to the semi-finals, England have little margin for error.

Their next game is against South Africa.

The West Indies are in a strong position for the semi-finals after their victory over New Zealand.

• World Cup fixtures and results

Sloppy England punished

In the first game against Australia, England fell 12 runs short of chasing 311, but the mistakes they made with the ball and in the field were repeated in the second game against New Zealand.

Lauren Winfield-Hill dropped Deandra Dottin.

The West Indies were able to add 81.

England were able to fight back, mainly through the left-arm spinner Ecclestone, who removed Matthews and Stafanie Taylor, either side of Dottin being run out.

Campbelle and Nation took advantage of more England mistakes to rebuild the West Indies.

Nation was dropped by Shrubsole on 23 and should have been run out for 24, but Amy Jones dropped the ball.

Campbelle was put down by Shrubsole on 55 after he was overturned by Heather Knight.

England struggled on a wearing pitch in their highest successful chase in a World Cup match.

They were first revived by a stand of 60 between Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley after three of their own fell.

With the finish line in sight, it was cruel for Cross to be run out when Mohammed hit the non-striker's stumps, with Cross out of her ground.

England were beaten by three balls.

What can England do to improve?

England went winless against Australia in the Ashes series.

Their top-order batting is reliant on the trio of Knight, NatSciver and Tammy Beaumont, who were dropped on six.

The only batting reserve in the squad is Emma Lamb, who has not scored a half-century in two years. Dunkley and Wyatt could be dropped below Jones in the order, as he looks bereft of confidence with the bat.

Unforced errors with the ball and in the field are of greater concern.

The missed chances are costly, as England have conceded 21 and 23 runs to wides in their first two games, with the defeats coming by margins of 12 and seven runs.

Famous win for resurgent Windies

If West Indies win over New Zealand was a surprise, it was because of resilience and determination.

They could have crumbled when they lost four for 17 runs, including three for nought, but Campbelle and Nation kept them in the game.

West Indies had their own problems with drops and wides, but in Dottin they have perhaps the best fielder in the world and she pulled of a spectacular, gravity-defying catch to hold Winfield-Hill in one hand.

The women in maroon celebrated when Shrubsole's wicket sparked joyous celebrations from the women in maroon.

'We've got to be better'

Heather Knight said that the fielding performance wasn't us. There is a bit of frustration, but we are not too concerned. There are a lot of things we could have done differently. We need to be better as a fielding group.

West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor: "It was a bit nerve-wracking for me but I am really glad that we came out on the good side." I think we did well in patches, we had to bowl well and field well. We need to look at that and be consistent.

Alex Hartley is a former England spinner. Things need to change. England should be really upset with themselves.