SYDNEY: Delissa Kimmince’s career-best 3 for 20 helped Australia restrict England to their joint second-lowest T20I score, before their batters razed the 97-run target in just 11.3 overs. Both sides will face each other in the tri-series final on March 31.
England’s rut started right at the top as they lost Danielle Wyatt, their centurion from the previous game, off the fourth ball after Australia opted to field. Kimmince sniped out Tammy Beaumont in the fourth over. Two overs later, Amy Jones and Nat Sciver were gone. Sciver’s dismissal was particularly breathtaking as Meg Lanning snaffled a one-handed airborne, back-arching blinder at mid-off before falling on her right shoulder, which is still under recovery from a surgery. England’s 40 for 4 became 40 for 5 six balls later as Heather Knight, the captain, was trapped plumb in front while attempting a premeditated sweep. This capped off a full-blown collapse they couldn’t recover from. A 27-run seventh-wicket stand, the highest of the innings, between Jenny Gunn and Davidson-Richards helped deny Australia for a while, but they didn’t threaten to take game away from England.
Scores: Australia 97 for 2 (Perry 47*, Lanning 41*) beat England 96 (Davidson-Richards 24, Kimmince 3-20, Schutt 2-13) by eight wickets.