England beat Pakistan by 53 runs at Edgbaston in the first T20 of a three match series. England recovered to set a target of 164 after slipping to 11-4 early on. Heather Knight, Dani Gibson and Amy Jones - in her 100th IT20 - built back England's innings. Sarah Glenn's four wicket haul ensured the victory for the home side, putting them 1-0 up in the series.
England XI: Danni Wyatt, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight (c), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Amy Jones (wk), Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell
Pakistan: XI: Sidra Ameen, Gull Feroza, Sadaf Shamas, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nida Dar ©, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana, Tuba Hassan, Rameen Shamim, Waheeda Akhtar, Sadia Iqbal
Nat Sciver-Brunt was absent from the XI, undergoing a minor medical procedure and is set to return to full training next week. Regarding Pakistan, the tour marked a significant change in their set up. Captain and stalwart, Bismah Maroof, retirement in April after racking up 276 caps over an 18-year stint.
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Getting off the mark with a boundary, Maia Bouchier’s innings was ultimately brief as she chipped Waheeda Akhtar straight down the throat of captain Nida Dar at mid off.
England skipper Heather Knight and Freya Kemp quickly found themselves at the crease with the side slipping 11-3 in the second over. Sadia Iqbal dismissed opener Danni Wyatt for one and Alice Capsey for five.
England’s rustiness was blunt and clear as poor communication between Knight and Kemp led to a run out. Kemp attempted a second run – her skipper standing still leaving the 18-year-old scrambling back to her crease.
After finding themselves 11-4 half way through the powerplay, England started to rectify their woes as Amy Jones came to the middle, featuring in her 100th IT20, fittingly at her home ground, Edgbaston.
Picking out a number of boundaries, the pair ticked the score over to 63-4, preventing any more wickets from tumbling ahead of the half way mark. While England looked temporarily comfortable, Knight and Jones forging a 67-run partnership, Pakistan found a breakthrough.
Amy Jones, who was dropped at backward point on three, was finally dismissed for 37 which she acquired from 27 deliveries. Unlike previously, England’s middle order did not fret at Dani Gibson started her innings with back-to-back boundaries down to third.
Knight mirrored this confident approach, her side reaching the 100 mark with just under six overs remaining. The skipper fell short of the half century milestone as she departed for 49 after a somewhat successful rescue mission with the bat.
Dani Gibson’s dangerous sweep shots and 200 plus strike rate pushed England to conclude their innings on 163-6 - a respectable total, especially given their turbulent start.
Defending 163, Lauren Bell opened the bowling for England, struggling with consistency and conceding 12. However, the hosts turned to spin as Charlie Dean trapped Sidra Ameen LBW – Pakistan appealing unsuccessfully.
Pakistan, despite the early wicket, were on the charge with Sadaf Shamas sailing above a strike rate of 200. The visitors were 50-1 after a strong five opening overs but their momentum was momentarily halted as Amy Jones took a spectacular one-handed grab behind the stumps to see Gull Feroza dismissed.
In her first England game since sustaining a concussion in New Zealand, Sarah Glenn had an early impact. Attempting to reverse sweep, Muneeba Ali flicked up the ball resulting in a regulation catch for Jones. Ahead of the half way point, with Pakistan 74-3, Glenn appealed for her second of the day, the original decision of out being overturned.
Pakistan’s hopes got slimmer and slimmer as Shamas was ran out for 35 – Nida Dar, the captain, causing the error on field. Pressure building, Pakistan slipped to 83-5 as Maia Bouchier took a catch of Glenn’s bowling in front of the Hollie’s stand, entertaining the 12,241-strong crowd.
Sarah Glenn went upstairs twice in the space of an over – both decisions given umpire’s call but a subsequent wicket came as spin partner, Sophie Ecclestone, successfully ended Natalia Pervaiz’s brief appearance.
England suffocated the opposition more and more, Rameem Shamim skying the ball up, Danni Wyatt securing the catch after racing in from the boundary. Glenn added two more wickets to her tally, totalling four, bowling Waheeda Akhtar without loss.
Bell concluded the match, finishing with figures of 3/22. After a disastrous start to proceedings, England thrashed the opposition by 53 runs - England's middle order and bowling attack bringing them back into the game.
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