Tahlia McGrath helps Australia beat England women by nine wickets in first T20 international despite Danni Wyatt leading the charge with 70 from 54 balls
- England women sadly began their Ashes challenge in familiar way to the men
- The Australian side beat England by nine wickets in first T20 on Thursday
- Danni Wyatt propelled England to what looked like a challenging 169 for four
- However, it was not enough to test Australia in first of the three internationals
- Tahlia McGrath then smashed an unbeaten 91 off 49 balls to win the match
England women began their Ashes challenge in the same way that has become sadly familiar for the men throughout the last two months – with a crushing defeat by Australia.
Even though Danni Wyatt propelled England to what looked like a challenging 169 for four in the first of three Twenty20 internationals that launch this multi-format Ashes, it was not nearly enough to test a rampant Australia.
Tahlia McGrath, who had taken three of the four England wickets, then smashed an unbeaten 91 off 49 balls as Australia romped home in Adelaide with nine wickets in hand and fully three overs to spare.
England women began their Ashes challenge in the same way that has become sadly familiar for the men throughout the last two months – with a crushing defeat by Australia
Even though Danni Wyatt propelled England to what looked like a challenging 169 for four in the first of three Twenty20 internationals, it was not nearly enough to test a rampant Australia
Wyatt had got England off to the flying start predicted by Kate Cross in yesterday’s Sportsmail when she hit 70 off 54 balls, with three sixes, and shared in an opening stand of 82 in 10.1 overs with Tammy Beaumont.
But it proved not nearly enough even though Sophie Ecclestone claimed the early wicket of Alyssa Healy, Australia captain Meg Lanning adding 64 in an unbroken second wicket stand of 144 with McGrath.
Australia take two points from the win, leaving England needing to hit back in the final two T20 internationals tomorrow and Sunday before next week’s Test.
‘We’ve come a long way in the space of a week but there’s still a long way to go,’ said Beaumont afterwards. ‘We want to go toe to toe with Australia and to get a good score was a massive positive. But we made mistakes in the field.’
Tahlia McGrath (above) smashed an unbeaten 91 off 49 balls as Australia romped home in Adelaide with nine wickets in hand and fully three overs to spare