Kuala Lumpur
Half-centuries to Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt propelled England Women to a resounding 84-run victory over Pakistan and an unassailable 2-0 lead in their T20I series in Malaysia.
Jones compiled an innings of 89 runs off 52 balls before she was bowled by the off-spin of veteran all-rounder Nida Dar as England fell to 162 for 4 after Heather Knight had won the toss. It was a second half-century in a row for Jones as she shared a 120-run partnership with fellow opener Wyatt, who struck 55 off 36 balls in her 100th T20I before she was caught by Javeria Khan off the bowling of Anam Amin. Jones also scored 53 off 39 balls in England’s 29-run win in the first of their three T20Is against Pakistan on Tuesday.
Wyatt was thrilled to have reached her 100-match milestone. “There have been a lot of highs and lows along the way but I’ve enjoyed the journey, and it means a lot to get here,” she said.””It’s great batting with Amy and we were happy to get us off to a good start. We’d have liked one of us to go on and get a hundred but it was a decent total.
“It’s tricky with the ball when the chase begins to be unlikely, but the bowlers stayed really disciplined and kept their standards high.”
England’s bowlers contained Pakistan well, with Iram Javed top-scoring for the hosts with 38 before she was caught behind by Jones off the bowling of Katherine Brunt. Brunt finished with 2 for 19 off her four overs, while spinner Sophie Ecclestone recorded the impressive figures of 3-1-5-2. Mady Villiers, playing only her second T20I since making her debut against Australia during the Ashes in July, took 2 for 21 off four overs.
The teams play the final match of the series on Friday, after which England’s next T20I campaign will be the tri-series with Australia and India in Australia in January and February with new coach Lisa Keightley in charge. That series precedes the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, also in Australia, in February and March.—Agencies
