Heather Knight's one-woman army heroics ensures England down Australia

Super Over. Generally it isn't a regular occurrence in international cricket but in the last four days, we have witnessed three matches that were decided based on the one-over eliminator.

It was Heather Knight's heroics first that put England ahead, then Natalie Sciver and Sarah Glenn's strikes that put them in the driver's seat before a late cameo by Annabel Sutherland, the debutante, snatched a win away from England's hands. But in the Super Over, Knight ensured that they beat Australia and get their first points on the table in the second match of the T20I tri-series at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Saturday (February 1).

England have shown a tendency in this series so far to trick the opponents into believing that they are in complete control and that England would fold up soon, only to recover through Knight’s knock.

Against India on Friday (January 31), England had slipped to three for 41 in the seventh over and then four for 59 in the tenth over. On Saturday, they slipped to three for 39 by the ninth over. Amy Jones (10), Danielle Wyatt (17) and Sciver (four) were all back in the hut.

An economical spell by Ellyse Perry – where she finished with 4-0-9-1 within the first seven overs, had a lot to do with that. She bowled as many as 17 dots in her spell which pushed England back. But then again, there was Heather Knight.

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She got together with her Western Storm team-mate Fran Wilson as the duo got together resurrecting the English innings. They first cautiously kept the scoreboard ticking, before slowly changing gears.

Heather Knight then teed off after the tenth over, targeting Jess Jonassen and rookie Sutherland. She got to her third T20I half-century in 36 balls, hitting successive fifty-plus scores. Along with Wilson, she added 115 before departing for a career-best 78.

Wilson stayed unbeaten on a 28-ball 39, that ensured England finished on a decent four for 156.

Australia’s attacking intentions were clear right away when Beth Mooney began with a couple of fours in the first over. Alyssa Healy (nine) did the same against Freya Davies in the next over before mistiming one to mid-off.

Mooney then got along with Ashleigh Gardner (16) for 47 runs before a couple of quick wickets pegged them back, including that of Meg Lanning for one. The southpaw then completed her fourth T20I fifty – third against England – before a procession set them back.

Jess Jonassen strikes it cleanly but is well-caught on the boundary by Katherine Brunt.

40 from 18 the equation now...cricketa.us/AUSvENG-1 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/KfCk9h9wuD

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 1, 2020

Glenn (3/28) then started what seemed like a decisive slide. She first trapped Perry leg before for 18 before dismissed Rachael Haynes for a two-ball duck. An over later, Sciver (3/23) got Mooney (65) and Jonassen (2) in a space of three balls. Australia had lost four wickets in a space of 12 balls in that space and it seemed at that point that it was England’s game.

But Sutherland then got into the act with the bat and turned the game on its head. In the company of Delissa Kimmince (six-ball 15), she added 17 in just eight balls to tie the match, staying unbeaten on 22 (11 balls).

Australia then made eight runs in the one-over eliminator, which England overhauled to notch up their first win in the series.

Last ball of the innings - three required for the win...#AUSvENG SCORECARD: https://t.co/9OJ2fsAaes pic.twitter.com/s5As5wbuXT

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 1, 2020

Brief Score: England 156/4 in 20 overs (Heather Knight 78, Fran Wilson 39*; Ellyse Perry 1/9, Georgia Wareham 1/15, Megan Schutt 1/40) tied with Australia 156/8 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 65, Annabel Sutherland 22*; Natalie Sciver 3/23, Sarah Glenn 3/28). England win the Super Over. PoTM: Heather Knight.