England routs Aussies by eight wickets

Opting to field, England restricted the Australians to 149 for eight at the Brabourne Stadium. Rachael Haynes top-scored for Australia with 65 off 45 balls, knock that included eight boundaries and a six. In reply, the English team chased down the target with as many as three overs to spare. 

The chase turned out to be a walk in the park as Sciver (68 not out off 43 balls) and Beaumont (58 not out off 44 balls) forged an unbeaten 116-run partnership for the third wicket in just 73 balls. Beaumonth and Sciver, who play in the Women’s Big Bash League, took a listless Australian bowling to task as they overhauled the target with plenty to spare. In the process, they steered the team out of trouble from 34 for two. 

The carnage began in the sixth over with the right-handed Beaumont hammering four consecutive boundaries off Megan Schutt, as England raced to 51. While Beaumont struck eight boundaries, Sciver hit 10 fours and two sixes in their respective knocks. 

Earlier, a brisk 65 off 45 balls from skipper Haynes steered the Australia women to a decent total. England bowlers put a disciplined performance as they took Australian wickets at regular intervals. 

Haynes posted her highest individual T20 score, as she hammered the English bowlers around the park, but she failed to find support at the other end. Australian openers — Alyssa Healy (31 off 23 balls) and Beth Mooney (4) — had put on 26 runs before debutant Katie George affected a smart run-out off her own bowling to dismiss Mooney in the fourth over. It was Healy, who gave the much-needed momentum, as she hit two fours and two sixes in the first six overs.