England batsman Danielle Wyatt has owned up to her struggles matching potential with performance in ODIs, having put those concerns to rest briefly with her maiden ODI century against Pakistan, with this century she also completed 1000 runs in ODI cricket. She was the chief assailant, smashing 12 boundaries and three sixes.
The openers smashed 110 and 107 respectively with captain Heather Knight adding 41 as England finished on 284-6 in the Malaysian capital. The new-look opening partnership of Tammy Beaumont and Danielle Wyatt flourished as both hit fine centuries. Wyatt’s first ODI ton in her 72nd appearance underlines a new-found consistency that her career has often lacked.
Kate Cross then took four wickets as Pakistan were dismissed for 209 and a debut fleece for Sarah Glenn are real positives from the bowlers.
Danielle Wyatt, whose ton was her first in ODIs, said: “To get that hundred out there with Tammy was an amazing feeling.” It was a tough challenge early on. The pitch was slow and skiddy so it was really important to play straight.
“Heather’s given me license to play my game at the top of the order and that’s what I did. We may be left a few runs out there and there are definitely a few things to work on for the next game, but Pakistan batted well and it was to nice to start the new era with a good win,” Wyatt said.
Captain Bismah Maroof was the top-scorer for their side with 69 runs for Pakistan. Wickets fell at regular intervals before a 50-run mark for the sixth wicket between Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz gave Pakistan a flicker of hope.
England consolidated the second spot in the ICC Women’s Championship, with qualification for the 2021 World Cup already confirmed.
The 2nd ODI match will be held at the same stadium on Saturday, 14th.
An ardent cricket admirer who grew up watching a lot of cricket. She loves reading up articles for breakfast, prefers match discussions at lunch and finishes by analyzing games for dinner. A person who views sports as a metaphor of life.
