England A won a memorable first T20 against Australia A on their multi-format tour. They secured them at the Hurstville Oval in Sydney with a nail-biting three-wicket victory that took them over the line. They made light work of the hosts’ target of 118, pursuing it with enthusiasm. In the end, they proved their perseverance and talent in a hard-fought, evenly matched game.
Australia A were set a paltry target of 117-6 in their 20 overs. For England’s bowlers, Mahika Gaur and Georgia Davis were instrumental in the trio of restricting the hosts. Gaur, at a towering 6ft 4in and one of the few left-arm pacers in women’s cricket, put in a magnificent personal display, with impressive figures of 2-10. Davis had a large part to play in that success, producing match-winning figures of 2-16.
The pursuit for England A wasn’t without its difficulties. With just 10 runs needed from the last three overs, tight bowling from Australia A made the task increasingly difficult. As the game approached a dramatic conclusion, England A needed three runs from the last over. Bess Heath certainly rose to the challenge. Her final blow was a stunning four off the first ball of the 20th over, clinching England A’s victory.
Heath’s legacy in the game went beyond her power at the plate. She had an impact with the ball immediately, taking the wicket of Tahlia Wilson on her first delivery of the game. Soon after, she removed Courtney Webb as well. Add to that her brilliant bowling figures, allowing just 10 runs in four overs.
The teenage Mahika Gaur has already made a name for herself on the world stage, having appeared in 26 senior white-ball internationals. Her steps in this practice simply drove home how readily she could damage foes with the peril of her abilities.
This win has come in a very timely manner for England. They are currently looking for a new head coach and captain following Jon Lewis and Heather Knight’s departure earlier this year. The decision came in the wake of a treacherous Women’s Ashes campaign, where England were cleaned up 16-0 by rivals Australia.
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