England Women A began their tour of Australia with a three-wicket victory over Australia Women A in their opening T20 at Hurstville Oval today.
The tourists needed 10 runs off the final three overs and two economic overs from Tess Flintoff (four runs) and Heather Graham (three runs) set up a tense finish.
However, wicketkeeper-batter Bess Heath held her nerve, dispatching Sianna Ginger to seal victory.
Mahika Gaur impressed (2-10), bowling Tahlia Wilson lbw on the first ball of the match as the hosts fell to 4-43. Warwickshire’s Georgia Davis took two wickets including that of the dangerous Madeline Penner while Mady Villiers and Emma Jones took a wicket apiece.
A 49-run stand from Penna and Rhys McKenna steadied the Australia A innings before Flintoff and Ginger made 23 runs off the final two overs as the hosts finished on 117-6.
In reply, England A T20 captain Grace Scrivens (35) and Paige Scholfield (36) led their side to within touching distance of victory, before both were dismissed by Lauren Cheatle in consecutive overs.
Bess Heath (18 not out) calmly secured England Women A victory in the first match of the series.
The two sides will play two more T20s in Hurstville before heading to Cricket Central for three 50-over contests.
The series will finish with a four-day match at the same venue from April 12.
England Women A: Grace Scrivens (captain), Seren Smale, Paige Scholfield, Freya Kemp, Bess Heath (wicketkeeper), Mady Villiers, Emma Jones, Issy Wong, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Mahika Gaur, Georgia Davis
Batter Bryony Smith has been ruled out of England Women A’s tour of Australia due to illness.
The Surrey captain, who was originally selected in the white-ball squads, did not travel with the core group and following medical investigations in the UK, a decision between ECB and Surrey medical teams was made for Smith to withdraw from the tour to continue her recovery ahead of the new domestic season.
No replacement will be named.
