Visitors England A led by skipper Hollie Armitage already had the fate of the One Day series out of their hands after consecutive losses in the first couple of games in the series, making the 3rd and final game of the One Day series a dead rubber. However, with pride at stake, England still had everything to play for to avoid a whitewash against their arch-rivals Australia A.
Twin fifties from Courtney Webb and Ella Hayward propel Australia A to 195
The home side got off to a horrible start as they lost half their side inside the first 13 overs of the innings including the wicket of their skipper Nicole Faltum, finding themselves in deep trouble at 29/5 after she won the toss and opted to bat first in the 3rd One Day at the Cricket Central, Sydney.
Ella Hayward joined Courtney Webb at the crease and the pair bailed their side out of troubled waters with a massive 100-run partnership for the 6th wicket. Georgia Davis struck twice in the 34th over to push the home side further on the back foot dismissing a well-set Courtney Webb (53 off 80 balls), who completed a gritty half-century before getting dismissed.
Australia were eventually bundled out for 195, with 19 balls to spare. Ella Hayward (76 off 92 balls) was the standout performer with the bat for Australia, while Hannah Darlington (20 off 32 balls), and Sophie Day (13 off 18 balls) chipped in with vital contributions with the bat towards the end to take them closer to the 200-run mark.
Grace Potts (10-1-30-3), and Ryana MacDonald-Gay (8.5-0-32-3) were the stand-out performers with the ball as they picked up three wickets each, while Mahika Gaur (7-2-20-1) was exceptional with the ball for her side, while Georgia Davis (10-0-55-2) was impressive in her spell for England.
Paige Scholfield’s 83 gives England A a consolation win in a nail-biting thriller
Defending a total of 196, the Australian bowlers came back roaring, reducing England to 23/3 in the 7th over of the run chase, which also included the wicket of their skipper Hollie Armitage, in a sensational display of new-ball bowling by Sianna Ginger and Nicola Hancock.
Paige Scholfield joined Alice Capsey at the crease and the duo bailed their side out of trouble with a much-needed 41-run partnership for the 4th wicket, taking them past the 50-run mark, settling the nerves in the England camp. Sophie Day broke the stand, by sending Alice Capsey (20 off 39 balls) back to the pavilion in the 16th over of the run chase.
Wicket-keeper batter Saren Smale joined Paige Scholfield at the crease and the duo almost took the fizz out of the run chase with a massive 88-run partnership for the 5th wicket, which also took them past the 150-run mark. There was a twist in the tail after the wicket-keeper batter Seren Smale (34 off 67 balls) was found short of the crease in the 39th over of the innings.
England eventually just about managed to get over the line with one wicket in hand and four balls to spare to clinch the 3rd and final One Day of the series. Paige Scholfield (83 off 102 balls) was the standout performer with the bat for England, while Georgia Davis (18 off 19 balls), and Ryana MacDonald-Gay (16 off 30 balls) made crucial contributions with the bat, towards the end of the run chase for their side.
Sophie Day (10-0-43-2), Ella Hayward (10-2-24-1) and Charli Knott (10-1-39-1) were the stand-out performers with the ball for Australia, while Nicola Hancock (9-1-50-2) and Sianna Ginger (9.2-1-31-1) were impressive in the spell with the ball for their side.
Loves all things female cricket