Brunt, Gunn fashion England victory
A superlative all-round show by Katherine Brunt, backed up by Jenny Gunn’s four-wicket haul, helped England Women overwhelm Australia Women by 40 runs in the second Twenty20 International at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Sunday (November 19).
Coming in at No. 5, Brunt smoked a quick-fire 24-ball 32, taking England to a formidable 152 for 6 in its 20 overs. She then returned exceptional figures of 2 for 10 in her four overs and Gunn finished with 4 for 13 as Australia was bowled out for 112, England levelling the three-match series 1-1.
Australia started its chase strongly with Beth Mooney, the star of the previous match, and Alyssa Healy combining for an opening stand of 45 in 5.2 overs. But it all went downhill for the host thereon as it lost four wickets for seven runs in the space of 14 deliveries.
The slide started with the dismissal of Mooney (17), who was caught short of her crease courtesy a direct hit from Gunn, while Elyse Villani (1) was stumped by Sarah Taylor off Brunt’s medium-pace.
Healy was the next to depart for a 21-ball 25, caught off Gunn, before Brunt struck again by castling Ellyse Perry to reduce Australia to 52 for 4, which soon became 65 for 5 when Ashleigh Gardner was dismissed by Danielle Hazell.
Rachael Haynes, the skipper, struck a 12-ball 14 with two fours, while Delissa Kimmince smacked a six in her 17, but once Sophie Ecclestone, the slow left-armer, removed both batters in the 14th over, the writing was on the wall.
Gunn, the fast-medium bowler, then polished off the tail to finish with 4 for 13 in her four overs.
England promoted Danielle Wyatt after her 36-ball 50 in the first game to open the batting alongside Tammy Beaumont on winning the toss. She did not take much time in getting into her stride, crashing two boundaries in the very first over from Molly Strano, the off-spinner, but her stay at the crease was brief as she perished in the fourth over, caught by Haynes at cover off Megan Schutt for a 16-ball 19.
Beaumont soon followed, trapped in front after missing a sweep to a full delivery by Jess Jonassen, the left-arm spinner, as England slipped to 40 for 2 on the seventh over.
Taylor and Natalie Sciver then dug their heels in, crafting a 45-run stand for the third wicket before a direct hit by Kimmince from backward point saw Taylor’s back for a 23-ball 30.
Perry then got into the act to remove Sciver (40), but a superb late cameo by Brunt pushed England past the 150-mark. Grunt smashed two fours and as many sixes as the visitor amassed 47 runs in the last five overs to reach a competitive total.
For, Australia, Schutt picked up 2 for 16 in her four overs.
Australia has already retained the multi-format Women’s Ashes following its six-wicket win in the first T20I. The deciding match of the series will be played at the same venue on Tuesday.