ENGLAND WOMEN 152/6
KH Brunt* 32
NR Sciver 40
JL Jonassen 1/18
ML Schutt 2/16
AUSTRALIA WOMEN 112/10
AJ Healy 24
BL Mooney 17
JL Gunn 4/13
KH Brunt 2/10
England shrugged off their opening T20 horror to dish out one of their own to Australia in the second T20 international at the Manuka Oval. The Ashes may have been lost but a scoreline of 8-8 will alleviate some of their pain. England stepped towards that goal by registering their second win of the series to drag the points tally to 6 as against Australia’s 8.
England opted to bat after winning the toss. The pitch at Manuka Oval looked flat and promised plenty of runs. Danni Wyatt, promoted to open after her swashbuckling innings of 50 off 35 balls in the previous match, batted in the same vein plundering four boundaries in her knock of 19 runs off 16 deliveries. She provided the firepower which England had sorely missed in the top order on Friday. But she threw away the start hitting a Megan Schutt delivery straight into the hands of cover.
Tammy Beaumont earned a life when Ashleigh Gardner couldn’t hang on to a catch at mid-off. But she couldn’t make it count missing a sweep to be adjudged lbw off a Jess Jonassen delivery for 9 runs. Sarah Taylor batted beautifully for her 30 runs before she attempted a run so crazy that even the Joker would have looked at her thoughtfully. She hit the ball straight to Delissa Kimmince at backward point and still set off for the non-existent run. Kimmince completed the formality, Taylor well short of her ground.
Brunt was again sent in as the pinch-hitter like the previous match. This time instead of a golden duck she cooked up a tasty meal of 32 runs from 24 balls, two 6s providing the garnish. Brunt along with head chef Nat Sciver, who top-scored with 40 off 32 balls, helped England post a competitive total of 152. Sciver while attempting a pull shot, top-edged Perry’s delivery which found its way into the hands of skipper Rachael Haynes.
Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney got Australia off to a good start with a partnership of 45 runs. Mooney, star of the first match, was also done in by a run-out. Jenny Gunn at mid-off accounted for Mooney with a direct throw. Mooney also couldn’t make England pay heavily when she was left off due to a no-ball by Danielle Hazell who took a return catch to seemingly get Mooney out.
Elyse Villani missed a pull shot completely off Brunt’s delivery. Taylor, providing a visual evidence of just why Michael Clarke-the former Aussie captain-rates her the best wicket-keeper across both the men’s and women’s format, quickly gathered and whipped the bails in one motion to dismiss Villani.Healy inexplicably lifted one straight to long-on and Australia found themselves from 45-0 to 49-3.
The collapse continued. Perry departed at 52, dragging Brunt’s delivery onto the stumps. Ashleigh Gardner followed and the score was now 65-5. From then on it was only a matter of when. Sophia Ecclestone picked up two wickets to continue her good showing in the Ashes
Jenny Gunn mopped up the tail to end up with 4-13. She became the first overseas player to take a T20I 4-fer in Australia. Brunt, who bagged a 2-fer in an economical spell of only 10 runs in 4 overs to go along with her 32 runs, was adjudged the Player of the Match for her all-round performance. The last match of the series will take place on Tuesday at the Manuka Oval.