Knight stars in England victory

Knight, who had scored 67 in Friday’s opener against India, went better against the world No.1 Australians on Saturday. She came to the crease under pressure with the score reading 32 for two in the eighth over and was handed a life early when Sutherland put down a difficult chance off leg-spinner Wareham in the ninth.

She then steadied before putting the pressure straight back on the Australian bowlers, finding the boundary eight times and cleared it thrice during a superb captain’s knock, only dismissed from the penultimate ball of the innings. She returned in the Super Over to ice a thrilling victory.

Knight put on 115 in just 11 overs for the third wicket with Fran Wilson – who struck her own excellent 28-ball 39 not out – giving the visitor all the momentum heading into the innings break after what had been an outstanding start from the Australian bowlers in the power play.

With the ball, England’s spinners tied down the Australian batters and made crucial breakthroughs. Leg-spinner Sarah Glenn – an opponent new to the host – struck three times to claim the key wickets of Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry and Rachael Haynes.

Brief scores: England 4-156 in 20 overs (Knight 78, Wilson 39*; Perry 1-9) tied with Australia 8-156 in 20 overs (Mooney 65, Sutherland 22*; Glenn 3-28) Super Over: Australia 0-8 (Gardner 5*, Healy 3*; Ecclestone 0-8) lost to England 0-10 (Knight 9*, Wyatt 1*; Perry 0-10)