The England women's team today lost their first group match of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 against Australia on a boundary count back after the game and the ensuing super over were tied. Scores were level on 104 after 40 overs before both teams reached six for two after the super over. As Australia had hit the only six of the match they were awarded the win on count back.
Earlier England won the toss and opted to bat in the second match of the day at Warner Park, which had earlier witnessed the first century in women’s Twenty20 by Deandra Dottin of the West Indies.
Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor led England to the crease to start the defence of their ICC World Twenty20 title. The Australian field was well set from the off by Alex Blackwell, making the task of accumulating runs difficult for England. It was not a good batting day for Edwards who went for six or Claire Taylor who was run out without facing a ball. The Australians were throwing the stumps down at every opportunity and the spinners Lisa Sthalekar and Shelley Nitschke were controlling the game. Sarah Taylor top scored for England with 46 before being caught by Sthalekar after skying a ball in what may have been a costly momentary lack of concentration. Beth Morgan and Lydia Greenway only managed to add on 17 and 14 respectively, with the rest of the middle order failing to contribute. England were all out for 104 in 17.3 overs.
England took to the field with the challenge of taking early wickets to get themselves back in the game. Strike bowler Katherine Brunt stepped up and through a catch by Morgan, removed Elyse Villani in the second over. Brunt then followed by bowling out Nitschke, and Edwards took a catch at short fine leg to dismiss Alex Blackwell, to leave Australia on three for 44. The excitement built as the wickets fell and England once again displayed their world class fielding to get themselves back in the game. Beth Morgan took a total of three catches and one direct hit for a run - out to draw the game and force a super over.
In the super over, Laura Marsh was the nominated bowler for England and once again exceptional fielding was displayed with Gunn scooping a ball mid-air to prevent a six. Taylor and Morgan were the nominated batters for England who faced Nitschke. Both teams scored six for two to tie the super over and the game was won by Australia on count back as they scored the only six of the game.
Speaking after the game Charlotte Edwards said: ‘We clearly needed to score more runs, but our bowling was outstanding and we fought right to the end. I’m gutted that we lost the game.’
Mark Lane, Head Coach said: ‘Clearly we have areas to work on, we will work hard in practice tomorrow ready for the West Indies on Friday.
‘We’ve had a few trial runs at the Super Over, so we were quite clear on how it was going to work, but unfortunately we were run out. We are disappointed, but we didn’t loose the game on the Super Over, we lost it with the bat in the first innings.’
England play their next group game against the West Indies on Friday, May 7 at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts.
