Melbourne: England’s women cricket team beat Australia again to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 series.
For the third time in as many matches Lydia Greenway played a match-winning innings as England cruised home by five wickets. But with three games to go, followed by the Ashes Test in Sydney, England will be worried by the poor standard of their fielding.
At one point they dropped a hat-trick of catches, all offered by Leah Poulton, although the Australian failed to capitalise on the generosity shown to her. Ironically, Poulton fell to a brilliant piece of fielding, a fine reflex catch by Jenny Gunn, whose return to the side clearly strengthened it.
In a match reduced to 16 overs per side because of the damp outfield, Alex Blackwell and Lisa Sthalekar managed to score 24 runs from the last three overs but it was still not enough to present a stiff challenge and England were able to play within themselves to win.
After playing a key role in the final one-day international and the first Twenty20 game, Greenway hit 30 not out to guide England home. She was dropped when she offered a return catch to Rene Farrell, but by then only six runs were needed to win from eight balls.
The only hiccup to the England innings came when they lost three wickets for 17 runs in four overs. But the tourists had started well, reaching 39 for one in the sixth over before the mini-collapse. A fifth wicket partnership of 43 between Greenway and Gunn ensured it would be England’s day again.
Edwards added: “We’ve lost some important players to injury but we’ve been very positive about it and just decided to go out there and give it a go.”
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription