England secure big win over Australia

The result: Australia 8-149 (Haynes 65, Healy 31; Gunn 3-26) lost to England 2-150 (Sciver 68no, Beaumont 58no; Jonassen 0-25) by eight wickets with 18 balls to spare.

The match in a tweet: Brilliant Beaumont and scintillating Sciver guide England to a comfortable victory over Australia to claim their first points of the T20I tri-series.

The heroes: After openers Bryony Smith and Danielle Wyatt fell early, Tammy Beaumont and Natalie Sciver came together in an explosive 116-run partnership that stole the wind from the sails of the Australian attack. England No.3 Beaumont came to the crease a little earlier than she may have anticipated when debutant Smith was stumped in the second over of England’s chase, but the powerful right-hander didn’t take long to find her rhythm. She struck four consecutive boundaries from one Megan Schutt over and after the dismissal of Wyatt (18) in the fifth over, the equally exciting Sciver joined her in producing fireworks. First Beaumont, then Sciver reached half-centuries, the pair finishing unbeaten on 58no (44) and 68no (43) respectively as they completed a clinical chase.

The support acts: England, led by economical spells from Jenny Gunn (3-26) and Danielle Hazell (1-24), did well to restrict the boundaries late in the Australian innings, keeping their Ashes rivals to 8-150 after 20 overs – well below the 180 Meg Lanning believed was par in Thursday’s game against India on the same wicket. Australia’s incredibly deep batting order was almost all given a workout as wickets fell at regular intervals and despite a series of promising starts, their innings never quite managed to maintain or build momentum with Elyse Villani (5), Ellyse Perry (2), Sophie Molineux (6) and Delissa Kimmince (1) all out cheaply.

The consolation effort: Stand-in captain Rachael Haynes led from the front with a powerful 45-ball 65, playing a lone, aggressive hand as regular wickets fell around her. Coming to the crease at 3-66 after eight overs, Haynes brought up her half-century from 37 deliveries. She found the boundary eight times and cleared it once before falling in the final over for 65 (45), but never found a partner able to stick with her. Australia’s biggest partnership was just 33 runs. 

The missing captain: Haynes was filling in for Lanning, who was rested as part of the ongoing management of the shoulder she had surgery on last year. With Australia playing two T20Is in as many, the decision was made to sit Lanning out but the skipper is expected to return against India on Monday.

The debuts: Australia handed allrounder Nicola Carey T20I cap No.49, adding to the maiden ODI cap she received earlier in the tour. With the bat she faced two balls, scoring one run. For England, with three core players out – Anya Shrubsole with a shoulder injury and Katherine Brunt (back) and Sarah Taylor (rested) not part of the touring party – three players made debuts; left-arm quick Katie George, opener Smith and allrounder Alice Davidson-Richards.

The next stop: Australia have two days off before returning to action in their third match, against India on Monday. For England, Saturday is a rest day before they meet India on Sunday. Play in all tri-series matches will begin at 10am local (3.30pm AEDT) with Australian matches to be broadcast live on Fox Sports and scores on cricket.com.au.

Commonwealth Bank Tour of India

Australia T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

India T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Rumeli Dhar, Mona Meshram.

England T20I squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Katie George, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Bryony Smith, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by 321 runs. Report

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by seven wickets. Report

ODI series

First ODI Australia won by eight wickets. Scorecard

Second ODI Australia won by 60 runs. Scorecard

Third ODI Australia won by 97 runs. Scorecard

T20I tri-series

First T20I Australia defeated India by six wickets. Scorecard

Second T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 23. Live Coverage

Third T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 25. Live Coverage

Fourth T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, March 26. Live Coverage

Fifth T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 28. Live Coverage

Sixth T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 29. Live Coverage

Final Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 31. Live Coverage