In one of the most gripping red-ball ‘A’ matches in recent memory, Australia A pulled off an extraordinary 25-run win over England A in the final moments of day four at Cricket Central in Sydney. The star of the show? None other than skipper Charli Knott, whose all-round brilliance—an emphatic century followed by a match-clinching final over—delivered a stunning result in a contest that ebbed and flowed until the very last ball.
The final day began with Australia A declaring at 6-353, courtesy of Knott’s masterful 123, a second half-century from Nicole Faltum (54*), and another crisp 76 from Rachel Trenaman. That sporting declaration left England A a tantalizing target of 290 runs in two sessions. With the pitch flattening out and time limited, the stage was set for a dramatic chase—or an attritional draw.
England A started cautiously through Mady Villiers (14) and Grace Scrivens (38), navigating the new ball without panic. At 2-181 deep into the final hour, a draw looked most likely. But Hollie Armitage (75) and Alice Capsey (55) launched a thrilling counterattack, putting the Australian bowlers under real pressure. Capsey, fresh off her first-innings ton, continued her breakout match with flair, while Armitage took calculated risks to keep England’s hopes alive.
Yet, under the fading light and soaring tension, the momentum shifted. Maitlan Brown had Capsey stumped to break a dangerous partnership, and Lilly Mills followed up with a sharp return catch to dismiss Armitage. But even then, the drama was far from over. Paige Scholfield reignited England’s chase with a furious 39 off just 24 balls, playing with freedom and intent. When she fell to Tess Flintoff, it triggered a mini-collapse—3 wickets for 3 runs—and suddenly, England A went from charging to clinging on.
With one over left and nine wickets down, England’s last pair, Issy Wong and Georgia Davis, dug in to try and salvage a draw. They nearly succeeded. But disaster struck in the penultimate over as Wong was run out attempting a tight single. That left Davis to face Charli Knott with just five balls remaining. Fittingly, it was Knott who ended the match—clean bowling Davis to secure a memorable win. Captain. Match-winner. Hero.
It was a finale worthy of the buildup—a crescendo to a contest that had delivered high-quality cricket across all four days.
Day 1: Trenaman Anchors as Australia ‘A’ Rebuilds
The match began with Australia A recovering from early trouble to post a solid 343, thanks to a composed 77 from Rachel Trenaman. Charli Knott (52), Nicole Faltum (52), and Sianna Ginger (54) also played pivotal roles in reviving the innings. A 40-run unbroken stand between Ginger (41*) and Maitlan Brown (19*) closed out the innings with momentum. England A’s Issy Wong was fiery and effective, bagging 5 for 63 across two days, while Grace Potts picked up 2 for 54 to help mop up the tail.
Day 2: Capsey and Scholfield Shift the Tide
After being rocked early at 34 for 3, England A staged a sensational turnaround, led by debutant Alice Capsey and the in-form Paige Scholfield. Their 210-run fourth-wicket stand was the heartbeat of the day’s play. Capsey announced her arrival in red-ball cricket with a polished 108 off 170 balls, while Scholfield reached stumps on 138*, having dismantled the spin attack. Jodi Grewcock offered calm support with 29*, and by the end of the 2nd day, England A were 317/4—just 26 runs behind Australia A.
Day 3: Hosts Reclaim Momentum as Trenaman and Knott Reunite
England A extended their lead to 64, finishing on 407 after Scholfield’s marathon 164 and lower-order contributions from Davis (23) and Gray (14). Australia A’s reply was steered once again by the reliable Trenaman, who posted her second fifty of the match (58*). She was joined by Knott (40*) in a vital 69-run unbroken partnership. After losing three wickets—Darke (18), Wilson (30), and Learoyd (29)—the pair saw Australia A to 179/3 at stumps, taking back the reins and setting up a final-day thriller.
In the end, it was Charli Knott’s match—her composure with the bat, her leadership in setting up a daring declaration, and her nerve in delivering the final blow with the ball. Twin half-centuries from Trenaman, twin efforts from Faltum, and clutch moments from Brown, Flintoff, and Mills gave the Australians the edge they needed. England A, too, had their heroes: Scholfield’s commanding 164 and brisk 39, Capsey’s 163 runs across two innings, and the collective grit of their batting lineup.
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