Francesca Galan’s 5-Fer Helps Argentina Women to Dominant 165-Run Win Over Mexico

Argentina Women continued their dominant run against Mexico Women with another commanding performance in the second T20I of the Argentina Women tour of Mexico 2026 in Texcoco on October 24. After a competitive first innings featuring a rapid knock from Milagros Bestani and a composed unbeaten half-century from Maria Lehmann, Argentina’s bowlers took complete control of the contest. Francesca Galan delivered a sensational spell, claiming five wickets for just five runs, as Mexico were bowled out for 23 in 9.3 overs. Argentina secured a 165-run victory, underlining their superiority with both bat and ball.

Francesca Galan's 5-Fer Helps Argentina Women to Dominant 165-Run Win Over Mexico
Francesca Galan’s 5-Fer Helps Argentina Women to Dominant 165-Run Win Over Mexico; PC: Cricket Argentina

Argentina’s innings began with Mexico looking to strike early, and Gabriela Gaby delivered by dismissing Alina Emch for four off seven balls. The early breakthrough was followed by Tania Salcedo removing Maria Mastrangelo, who was trapped lbw for five off eight deliveries. Argentina found themselves at 12/1 in 2.2 overs and then 15/2 in 3.1 overs, giving Mexico some early encouragement.

Julia Andujar attempted to rebuild the innings, scoring 17 off 18 balls with one four and a six. However, Gaby struck again to remove Emch’s successor in the batting order, while Andujar’s stay at the crease ended at 91/5 in 8.6 overs. The key turning point came when Bestani joined the action and transformed the scoring rate with a remarkable display of aggressive batting.

Bestani struck 34 off just 12 deliveries, smashing eight fours at a strike rate of 283.33. Her short but explosive innings put pressure back on Mexico after the early wickets. Anna Septien eventually dismissed Bestani, taking the catch herself, as Argentina lost their third wicket at 57 in 5.6 overs. Julieta Cullen added further impetus with 14 off 11 balls, including two boundaries, before Gaby claimed her third wicket to leave Argentina at 86/4 in 8.2 overs.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, Albertina Galan and Lehmann provided the stability Argentina needed. Galan remained unbeaten on 37 from 37 deliveries, striking four fours, while Lehmann played a more aggressive supporting role to finish on 51 not out from 40 balls, including seven boundaries. Their unbroken sixth-wicket partnership guided Argentina through the remaining overs and ensured that the innings recovered strongly after the middle-order setbacks.

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Argentina closed their 20 overs at 188/5, setting Mexico a challenging target of 189. The innings included 26 extras, comprising 13 no-balls and 13 wides, which added valuable runs to the total. Gaby was Mexico’s most successful bowler with 3/35 from four overs, while Salcedo claimed 1/14 in four overs. Septien finished with 1/42, and Ivonne Rodriguez conceded 43 runs without taking a wicket. Araceli Perez also went wicketless, conceding 54 runs in four overs, as Argentina’s late partnership ensured a competitive total.

Mexico’s chase began under immediate pressure, and Argentina’s pace and accuracy left the hosts with little room to settle. Captain Anna Septien was run out by Francesca Galan for one off four balls, before Galan bowled Zitalalli Hernandez for one from five deliveries. Gabriela Gaby then departed for a two-ball duck, caught by Constanza Sosa off Galan, as Mexico slumped to 3/4 in the early overs. The opening spell had already put Argentina firmly in control, with Galan finding a way to dismantle the top order.

The collapse continued when Salcedo was bowled by Galan for a nine-ball duck, leaving Mexico at 9/4 in 4.3 overs. Jennifer Pastrana managed two from nine balls before being run out by Julia Andujar, and Virginia Diaz followed for a first-ball duck, bowled by Galan. Araceli Perez was trapped lbw by Galan for another duck, reducing Mexico to 12/7 in 6.3 overs. The Argentine attack was relentless, and the hosts struggled to build even a small partnership.

Ivonne Rodriguez was bowled by Clara Valencia for a five-ball duck, while Maria del Carmen scored one from eight balls before being run out by Lehmann. Coral Amado was the final batter dismissed, bowled by Mastrangelo for a first-ball duck, as Mexico were all out for 23 in 9.3 overs. Judith Diaz remained unbeaten on two from seven deliveries, but there was little she could do to change the course of the innings. Mexico’s total included 16 extras, comprising one bye, three no-balls and 12 wides, highlighting how difficult it was for the batting side to get going.

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Francesca Galan was the standout performer of the match, finishing with remarkable figures of 5/5 in four overs, including a maiden, at an economy rate of just 1.25. Her five-wicket haul accounted for key top-order and lower-order dismissals and ensured Mexico never threatened Argentina’s target. Clara Valencia supported her with 1/13 in three overs, while Mastrangelo claimed 1/0 in 0.3 overs. Sosa bowled two overs for just four runs without taking a wicket, contributing to the pressure that kept Mexico pinned down.

For Mexico, Gaby finished with 3/35 in four overs, while Salcedo and Septien took one wicket each. Rodriguez and Perez went wicketless, conceding 43 and 54 runs respectively, as Argentina’s batters found ways to score despite losing wickets in the middle overs. The contrast between the two sides was stark: Argentina combined a steady finish with a devastating bowling display, while Mexico struggled to establish partnerships or counter the pressure.

The 165-run victory for Argentina Women in the second T20I strengthened their position in the series against Mexico Women. Lehmann’s unbeaten 51, Galan’s composed 37 not out and Bestani’s explosive 34 laid the groundwork before Francesca Galan’s five-wicket haul completed a comprehensive result. Argentina’s balanced performance with the bat and ball made the second T20I a one-sided contest and gave them another emphatic result on their tour of Mexico.

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