Skipper Meg Lanning's blazing knock helped Australia reach a record total before Megan Schutt led a brilliant bowling performance to beat arch-rivals England by 57 runs in the title clash of the women's T20 tri-series in Mumbai on Saturday. Australia rode on a stunning display by Lanning (88 not out) and Elyse Villani (51 of 30 balls) as they amassed 209/4, the highest-ever total in a women's T20 International, surpassing the previous best of 204/1 posted by South Africa against Netherlands in 2010.
The Southern Stars then performed with the ball by restricting England to 152/9, winning the game with ease. England had a bad start and were teetering at 14/2 with Breynoy Smith and Tamsin Beaumont falling for ducks on a placid track at the Brabourne Stadium. But Opener Danielle Wyatt (34 off 17 balls) made her intentions clear by hitting three boundaries in the very first over. Wyatt was going well and was poised for a big score, but after two consecutive boundaries she failed to get the elevation and gave a sitter to Lanning at cover off Delissa Kimmince, with England struggling at 47/3. Natalie Sciver (50 off 42 balls) waged a lone battle but that was not enough as the target was well out of their reach.
Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals as Australian bowlers did not allow the English batters to settle. Amy Jones (30), Fran Wilson (14), Alice Davidson Richards (1), Sophie Ecclestone (2) fell cheaply as England were never in the game.
For the Aussies Schutt (3-14) was the pick of bowlers, claiming two wickets in the 18th over. She was superbly aided by Ashleigh Gardner (2-20), Delissa Kimmince (2-35) and Ellyse Perry (1-35).
Earlier, asked to bat, Australia had a shaky start with opener Beth Mooney (0) falling early. But then Alyssa Healy (33 off 24 balls) and Gardener (33 off 20 balls) steered the team out of trouble in their 61-run second wicket stand. The Aussies raced to 62/1 in seven overs. Veteran Jenny Gunn bought England back into the game removing both Gardner and Healy in the eight over with Australia suddenly in a spot of bother at 66/3.
Brief Scores: Australia Women 209/4 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 88 not out, Elyse Villani 51, Jenny Gunn 2-38) won against England Women 152/9 in 20 overs (Natalie Sciver 50, Danielle Wyatt 34, Megan Schutt 3-14) by 57 runs.
India down England for consolation win
It was the second ball of the 16th over. India had England by the ropes at 102/7 in the last league game of the T20 tri-series. Batswoman Danielle Hazell tried to slog one down the ground but it hit the toe of the bat and looked like it was going for a boundary. India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, fielding at long-off, dashed towards it, dived and took a stunning one-handed catch to add to England’s misery.
While the catch didn’t have much of an impact on the outcome of the match, which India won comfortably by eight wickets, it showed the grit India lacked in the field in their last three games of the series. The hosts had lost all their previous games, giving them no chance of qualify for the final.
