Australia thump England, to face India in the tri-series final

Australia's spinners, led by Sophie Molineux (3/19), pulled off a heist as they defeated England by 16 runs on Sunday (February 9) to make it to the final of the T20I tri-series, knocking England out. The result meant that India also qualified to the final.

It was spinners’ day out at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. Molineux and Jess Jonassen just squeezed the English middle-order into submission. This was after Tayla Vlaeminck (2/18) struck to send back Danielle Wyatt (11) and Amy Jones (9) with her pace and bounce.

ALSO READ: Perry's heroics that helped Australia

Molineux first got rid of Natalie Sciver for 16, when she smashed one straight down Ellyse Perry’s throat at deep mid-wicket. Then she went on to get Heather Knight (13) stumped before an atrocious reverse sweep attempt saw Tammy Beaumont cleaned up for just six to leave England tottering at six for 70 in the 13^th over.

In the interim, Jonassen got Fran Wilson (2) stumped. That hampered England’s chances of making it to the finals, for which they needed to make at least 124. But Lauren Winfield’s 23 off 24 balls and Katherine Brunt's unbeaten 23 raised their hopes. Once Megan Schutt Winfield's her back, it was curtains for them.

BRILLIANT SOPH!

We are well in this contest! England 4-60 in the 11th over #CmonAussie pic.twitter.com/eH7awn1LGJ

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 9, 2020

Earlier in the day, Australia were asked to bat first. Alyssa Healy, who isn’t really having the best of series, saw her horror time with the bat continue as she was the first to depart for just one in the first over. David Warner just takes off after having a silent series by his standards and Australia would hope Healy takes off like that in the T20 World Cup.

Ashleigh Gardner (10), fresh off her heroics against India couldn’t last long either. She was deceived in the flight by Sophie Ecclestone to be castled. Only Beth Mooney managed to stay in the middle for long. Her 38-run stand with Meg Lanning (12) was riddled with opportunities to dismiss Lanning.

But the Australian innings was all about Mooney. She drove the bowlers, specially Anya Shrubsole, with aplomb through covers. Anything on her pads was worked away through the arc between square leg and fine leg. Eventually she brought up her fifth T20I fifty but was soon castled by Sarah Glenn for 50 off 40 balls.

Sophie Eccleston (L) and Sarah Glenn picked up eight wickets for 37 runs in the middle.

England’s spin twins did the Australians in as they finished with four for 37 between their eight overs. Even Rachael Haynes’ (24 off 21) cameo towards the end wasn’t enough for Australia, who ended up with seven for 132, which eventually proved more than just enough.

Brief Scores: Australia 132/7 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 50, Rachael Haynes 24; Sarah Glenn 2/18, Sophie Ecclestone 2/19) beat England 116/7 in 20 overs (Katherine Brunt 23*, Lauren Winfield 23; Sophie Molineux 3/19, Tayla Vlaeminck 2/18) by 16 runs. PoTM: Sophie Molineux.