England Women complete T20 series sweep against Pakistan

KARACHI: England Women overpowered Pakistan Women by 26 runs in the third and final Twenty20 International match to seal a 3-0 series win at Kuala Lumpur’s Kinrara Oval on Friday.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, England captain Heather Knight scored a quickfire 31-ball 43 which helped her side post an impressive 170 for three. Knight’s 81-run partnership for the second wicket with Amy Jones (37 off 35) was instrumental in giving England a firm grip on the innings after opener Danni Wyatt – who hit two fours and two sixes in her 15-ball 25 – was dismissed by Umaima Sohail, who returned 1 for 18 in three overs.

For her batting performance, the England captain was named Player of the Match. An unbeaten 52-run stand between Fran Wilson and Tammy Beaumont in the last 5.4 overs rescued England and ensured that the visitors would finish on a high note after Jones and Knight fell in a span of seven deliveries.

Wilson and Beaumont struck a four and a six each as the former scored 29 off 24 while the latter made 23 runs at a strike rate of 143.75. For Pakistan, pacer Diana Baig was the standout bowler with two wickets for 28 runs in four overs.

Pakistan openers couldn’t provide their side a desired start as Ayesha Zafar (9 off 8) and Nahida Khan (8 off 19) were sent back to the pavilion in 4.4 overs with 29 runs on the scoreboard.

Javeria Khan, batting at three, recorded her eighth half-century in the format with an unbeaten 57 from 56 balls. The right-handed batter struck five fours and a six.

She did not get the desired support from the other end as Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The next best score came from wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz, who made 19 not out from 7 balls.

Pakistan managed 144 for 5 in 20 overs. Leg-spinner Sarah Glenn and medium-pacer Anya Shurbsole picked up two wickets each for 12 and 15 runs respectively.

Javeria said: “This innings was due on me as I had not been able to put up scores earlier in the series. I look forward to execute what I have learnt from this series against a quality side like England and implement it in the T20 World Cup. I hope to shine in the mega event.

“We put England under pressure in bits and pieces and our overall performance has improved a great deal, which is something the England players have also told us. “We have squandered opportunities in this series. Going forward, we should try to make the most of the chances we get in a match. This series will help us a lot in learning that.” For registering two back-to-back half-centuries in the first two T20Is, England wicketkeeper-batter Jones was named Player of the Series.