01/07Result
1st T20I (D/N), Australia Women tour of England at Birmingham, Jul 1 2023
AUS Women won by 4 wkts (1b rem)
Player of the Match
Beth MooneyAustralia Women
01/07Result
1st T20I (D/N), Australia Women tour of England at Birmingham, Jul 1 2023
AUS Women won by 4 wkts (1b rem)
Player of the Match
Beth MooneyAustralia Women

Righto, Australia collect two more important points and look ever so strong. England have a lot of catching up to do, and quickly. That's it from us today, though. Thanks for tuning in. Till the next time, this is Ashish, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Srinidhi and scorer Thilak. Ciao!

Alyssa Healy, the Australia captain: We pride ourselves on finding ways to win games, and we found a way at the end, there. England bowled pretty well in the backend. Some change of pace to get themselves in. Great game of cricket to be a part of. Glad we were on the right side of the result. I thought it was a par score. The winning total here is about 160. We allowed them to get back into the game. I thought we were confident and the wicket playing well. That's what makes her [Mooney] so good, she reads the situation very well and knows how to go through the gears and she did that tonight. [Going back to T20 cricket] We don't mind it. Test cricket is the rarity for us, T20 we play a lot of. It wasn't too bad for the group to go back into the T20 mode. We were a bit worried that things might get a bit reckless out there. But really proud of the girls' effort through the week to get prepared. [Things to improve] We could be a bit more clinical at the death. We let them back into the game with the fielding as well. [Bowling options] It's all good till you walk into the changeroom and some one will be grumpy. I am really blessed to have such a bowling attack.

Heather Knight, England captain: We are getting closer. Really proud. Amy Jones got us to a total which was pretty par. Another special game. The crowd was great. Trying to manage the bowlers is all captaincy is about. I could have used her [Ecclestone] the over before, but she was great. Unfortunately, we are on the wrong side of it. Spinners are our strength. We have got world-class spinners. Slower balls were effective on that wicket. [Jones' knock] It was special, got us back into the game. It was a tricky surface, and for Amy to strike the way she did, was special. We want to be aggressive but also smart. It is tough already. The fact we came out and brought out a good show, we are proud of it.

Beth Mooney is the Player of the Match: Full faith in the girls, we bat very deep. It is a nice luxury to have. We probably got the tenth over mark but we lost a few wickets. Mindset can change through out, and that happened with me. The wicket was good, a little slower. They [England] batted exceptionally well in the last five overs. That is something we will look at going into the next game. You kind of just react to whoever is bowling. She [Ecclestone] bowled slower towards the end. We know she is the key. [Change of formats] Feels a bit of helter skelter. It is a nice change, feels a bit of free swing. We sort of got a bit of license with the ball coming on. We know that quality in the English side. We have to be prepared for that.

Presentation time

9.39pm All smiles for Australia. That got so much closer than what Australia would have liked but Beth Mooney, the stalwart, she stood tall right till the end. She remained unbeaten on 61 off 47 balls and ensured her side got over the line. Lauren Bell started off well, getting rid of Alyssa Healy early. But Mooney and McGrath added 49 for the second wicket, before Mooney added 61 with Gardner. However, England stormed back with quick wickets. Mooney, though kept her cool to help Australia claim two crucial points.

Andrew Miller: "Sorry to have to say this but Heather Knight's Captaincy has to be questioned again. By leaving Eccelstone to the final over there was always a chance the game would be gone baring a miracle. If she'd bowled the 19th Australia may have been left with a tricky 20th and who knows what pressure does. "

19.5
1
Ecclestone to Wareham, 1 run, There's the run and Australia win by four wickets! Slightly short, she goes back and punches to cover. The fielder had to dive to her right and that was enough for the duo to cross over.

Georgia Wareham comes in. 2 off 1.

19.4
W
Ecclestone to Sutherland, OUT, Top edge and taken! Another twist to this game. Oh, dear. England are hanging in. Goes slightly short that turns away from Sutherland. She goes back and looks to swing across the line. Gets a top edge as Jones runs across to the off side and snaps it up.

A Sutherland c †Jones b Ecclestone 9 (5m 6b 2x4 0x6) SR: 150.00

1 off 3

19.3
0
Ecclestone to Sutherland, no run, Fuller on middle, slammed back to Ecclestone who flings out her right hand but can't hold on. NO run again.
19.2
0
Ecclestone to Sutherland, no run, On a length outside off, she pushes to extra cover. No run there
19.1
4
Ecclestone to Sutherland, FOUR, Goes down the ground and gets four. What a star! Fuller on middle. She gets under it and slams it straight over the bowler's head. No fielders there

Ecclestone. Can she defend five? The DJ belts out Bryan Adams' Summer of 69.

END OF OVER:
19 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS-W: 149/5 (5 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.84, RRR: 5.00)

  • Beth Mooney61 (47b)
  • Annabel Sutherland5 (2b)
  • Lauren Bell4-0-32-2
  • Freya Davies3-0-28-0
18.6
4
Bell to Mooney, FOUR, What a batter! That is a shot of the highest quality. Backs away to the on-pace length ball, and effortlessly lofts it over covers. There are no fielders in the deep there. And now, Australia need just five.

Last ball of the over. Should Mooney take her chances?

18.5
1
Bell to Sutherland, 1 run, Fuller, pacy length ball on the pads of Sutherland who works it to deep backward square leg for a run
18.4
4
Bell to Sutherland, FOUR, Four first ball! Slower back of a length ball on the hips of the batter, who swings it to the right of deep backward square leg.

No shortage of batters in this lineup. Annabel Sutherland is in.

18.3
W
Bell to Perry, OUT, Cleans her up! Bedlam in Birmingham! Pace off again, that was the back of a hand slower ball on off. Perry plays across the line, misses and sees her off pole pegged back. That's a big moment in the game.

EA Perry b Bell 7 (6m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 116.66

18.2
1
Bell to Mooney, 1 run, Pace off again, spinning into Mooney who is down the track and cramped for room. She can only ease to Capsey at long on. She was a tad slow.
18.1
1
Bell to Perry, 1 run, Slower length ball on off, Perry looks for a drive, gets a thick inside edge past her stumps. Mooney pinches a quick run.

Right, who'll bowl the 19th? Ecclestone? Bell? Bell it is. Australia need 16.

END OF OVER:
18 | 8 Runs | AUS-W: 138/4 (16 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.66, RRR: 8.00)

  • Ellyse Perry6 (4b)
  • Beth Mooney56 (45b)
  • Freya Davies3-0-28-0
  • Sarah Glenn4-0-33-2
17.6
1
Davies to Perry, 1 run, On a length outside leg as Perry backs away a touch and pushes to long on
17.5
1
Davies to Mooney, 1 run, Another slower back of a length ball but on the hips of Mooney who helps it to Wyatt at deep backward square leg
17.4
1
Davies to Perry, 1 run, Slower short of a length ball and there is that width again. Perry whacks the cut this time a little closer to Wyatt who keeps it down to a run. Look at that gun throw.
17.3
2
Davies to Perry, 2 runs, Slower length ball but there is width and Perry cuts it hard to the left of Wyatt at deep point. The batter get two again
17.2
2
Davies to Perry, 2 runs, Good length ball outside off, Perry backs away and cuts to the right of point. Bell gives the ball chase and saves two. Excellent fielding by the quick.

Perry comes in and is on strike now

17.1
1
Davies to Mooney, 1 run, Slower yorker on off that is dug towards the extra cover area as the bowler runs across

Davies back on

END OF OVER:
17 | 8 Runs 2 Wkts | AUS-W: 130/4 (24 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.64, RRR: 8.00)

  • Beth Mooney54 (43b)
  • Sarah Glenn4-0-33-2
  • Lauren Bell3-0-21-1
16.6
W
Glenn to Harris, OUT, That strike rate won't matter today coz Harris has been done in first ball! Oh, this changes things? Slower leg-cutter that turns into the batter. Harris looks to push it without moving her feet much. Gets a thick inside-edge back onto her stumps. Glenn is elated, the crowd find their voice. Can England get a way back?

GM Harris b Glenn 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Grace Harris with a strike rate of 173.1 comes in

16.5
W
Glenn to Gardner, OUT, And that slog sweep brings about Gardner's end! Slower length ball outside off. Gardner was eyeing the deep midwicket area again, but this time gets a thin under-edge and Jones picked up a lovely catch. Too late? Timely wicket?

A Gardner c †Jones b Glenn 31 (28m 23b 0x4 2x6) SR: 134.78

AUS Women 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st20AJ HealyBL Mooney
2nd49BL MooneyTM McGrath
3rd61BL MooneyA Gardner
4th0BL MooneyGM Harris
5th10EA PerryBL Mooney
6th13BL MooneyA Sutherland
7th1BL MooneyG Wareham