Graham's all-round heroics seal thrilling win for Australia A

Australia A have claimed a thrilling final-over victory against England A in Adelaide, led by Heather Graham's heroics with both bat and ball.

Graham claimed 4-13 to help bowl the tourists out for 129 in batting friendly conditions at Karen Rolton Oval, aided by Amanda-Jade Wellington's superb spell of 3-15.

Then, when late wickets left Australia A's chase looking wobbly, the Tasmania allrounder's 25 off 14 helped sealed a three-wicket win with three balls to spare.

England A made a rollicking start led by Bryony Smith (25 off 10) after being sent in by the hosts, with 20 runs coming from Stella Campbell's first over.

Image Id: A46F631B735F4B9CBDD02B81417BC08A Image Caption: Heather Graham piled on 25 runs and took a key four wickets in Australia A's win

But Australia A rallied after Maitlan Brown removed Smith in the fourth over; Tess Flintoff bowled Eve Jones for 22 before leg-spinner Wellington, who missed out on a spot in Australia's Ashes squad, turned the screws.

She had Emma Lamb (3) stumped and took a sharp return catch to dismiss experienced international Georgia Elwiss (6), working beautifully in tandem with Graham, who took a caught and bowled of her own to dismiss England Ashes squad member Mady Villiers (2).

"I think (my wickets) were off the back of Wello's pressure to be honest," Graham told cricket.com.au following the game on Thursday.

"She bowled extremely well, it's her home ground so she knows how to bowl here and she showed us how to do it today."

Image Id: 01CCB14605D942C38D196734EE7A6084 Image Caption: Bryony Smith notched up 25 for England

Highly rated 17-year-old Alice Capsey was the clear standout for England A, hitting five boundaries on her way to 44 from 31 before becoming Graham's second wicket.

England lost 8-68 to be all out for 129, but the most concerning moment came during fast bowler Anya Shrubsole's 15-ball stay at the crease.

Shrubsole - while clearly not intended to feature in England's Ashes opener on Thursday evening, is set to play a key role for them throughout the series – appeared to twist her a left ankle and was attended to by medical staff.

Limping between wickets, Shrubsole was dismissed for eight and did not take the field in the second innings. 

Image Id: 679E68B7CEB74B2A896FD4386A3B0BC2 Image Caption: Anya Shrubsole was checked after twisting her ankle batting

Australia A lost experienced openers Elyse Villani (4) and Georgia Redmayne (6) early in the chase to the bowling of Lauren Bell (3-17).

But teenage batters Georgia Voll (42 from 45) and Phoebe Litchfield (36 from 36) stepped up superbly, weathering a tricky spell from off-spinner Charlie Dean (0-25) to put on 80 runs for the third wicket.

Their departures in the 15th and 16th overs respectively somewhat stalled the chase, as Australia A lost 4-18.

But with 18 required from the final two overs, Graham launched, hitting three consecutive boundaries from the off-spin of Villiers to bring the equation down to six from nine.

Image Id: A9870BB80AEF4AEF820A70C72B928AF7 Image Caption: Young Georgia Voll was instrumental with the bat, compiling 42 off 45 for the Aussies

She hit out a ball later, but Tess Flintoff (5no) found the boundary to seal victory with three balls to spare.

"The way Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll batted to get us back into the game was outstanding, and it was nice to come in with a bit of freedom at the end there and just swing," Graham said.

"If they had bowled Tash Farrant it would have been different, but I do like facing a bit of off-spin so I was pretty happy that a spinner came on and eased the pressure … we talk about not taking it to the last over, so in that sense, (I needed to) go for it in the second-last over."

Graham's cameo followed her 21 from eight deliveries in a warm-up match against Australia on Tuesday, and the allrounder said she had started to carve out a new role for herself.

"It's been a role that I've played in The Hundred and in the WBBL for the Scorchers," she said.

 

"I've worked my way down the order a little bit and found a little bit of a niche there trying to close out the innings.

"I did a lot of work in the preseason down in Tassie on some power hitting and I think that's paying off with a little bit more confidence now to be able to clear the boundary."

Australia Ashes squad member Hannah Darlington appeared in the match, as did England's senior squad members Shrubsole, Villiers, Dean and Tash Farrant.

Australia A were without Grace Harris following her Ashes call-up, alongside Katie Mack and Molly Strano (both out due to COVID-19) and Erin Burns (who will only play the one-day games in Canberra due to personal reasons).

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Jan 20: First T20, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm AEDT

Jan 22: Second T20, Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm AEDT

Jan 23: Third T20, Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm AEDT

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval, 10am AEDT, 

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval (D/N), 2.10pm AEDT

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Australia A v England A

Australia A squad: Georgia Redmayne (c), Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns (OD only), Stella Campbell, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Katie Mack (OD only), Courtney Sippel, Molly Strano (OD only), Elyse Villani, Georgia Voll, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington

England A squad: Emily Arlott, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Alice Davidson-Richards, Georgia Elwiss, Kirstie Gordon, Eve Jones, Beth Langston, Emma Lamb, Bryony Smith, Ellie Threlkeld, Issy Wong

Jan 20: First T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 11am AEDT

Jan 21: Second T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 3pm AEDT

Jan 23: Third T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 10am AEDT

Jan 28: First OD, Philip Oval, Canberra, 10am AEDT

Jan 30: Second OD, Philip Oval, Canberra, 10am AEDT

Feb 2: Third OD, Philip Oval, Canberra, 10am AEDT