Wyatt helps England to 3-0 series win over Pakistan
- England secures a 3-0 series win over Pakistan with a stellar performance by Wyatt. Read more for highlights and detailed match analysis.
With a commanding 87 from Danni Wyatt, England defeated Pakistan by a margin of 34 runs at Headingley to seal a 3-0 T20 series rout.
Wyatt, the opener, took advantage of poor fielding—she was removed on 12, 79, and 81—to amass the majority of England’s 176 runs.
Wyatt made 45 off her final 16 balls, putting England in position for a higher score. However, she was removed as the first of eight wickets lost for 58 runs, meaning the hosts were out of the game in precisely 20 overs.
Even though Pakistan had a strong start, England’s highest score of the series—that one—proved to be far more than theirs.
In order to achieve 60-0, Pakistan was never ahead of the scoring rate. Sidra Ameen was dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone for a 26th run in the ninth over, and Gull Feroza, another opener, was caught for 30 runs in the following over.
Pakistan’s greatest T20 century against England was shared by captain Nida Dar and captain Aliya Riaz, who put on an uninterrupted 69-run partnership to extend the game; however, Pakistan finished far short at 142-4.
The teams will then play a three-game, one-day international series, which begins on Thursday in Derby.
At sun-drenched Headingley, Wyatt excels.
Despite the biased nature of this series, England can still benefit from it as they prepare for the World Cup in the fall.
After scoring one and six in the opening two matches of the series, Wyatt demonstrated her usual repertoire of wristy flicks, sweeps to the leg, and drives through and over the covers in her 48 balls. She will be a vital figure in Bangladesh once more.
After being caught off guard by wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali when she dove low to her right across first slip off seamer Diana Baig, Wyatt quickly recovered to take 20 runs from spinner Dar’s 11th over, which featured three of her 12 fours and a lofty six over long on.
Before Sadaf Shamas ultimately took him in a recurrence of the latter, Wyatt was dropped twice more: once for a straightforward chance at mid-off and once for a more difficult opportunity diving forward at deep extra cover.
But perhaps England paid a price for having so few other contributors in the face of more opposition.
Marea Bouchier, Wyatt’s opening partner, was run out for the second time in as many games; she set off for a single after driving straight to point. Meanwhile, Nat Sciver Brunt and skipper Heather Knight made eight and twelve, respectively, before chipping in with meek catches.
After being removed by a no-ball on one, Alice Capsey was run out for one and Danielle Gibson caught at short fine leg for thirteen.
The only other batter to join Wyatt in surpassing 20 with her 26 was Amy Jones, who was chosen player of the series for her runs and glove work.
Pakistan, get in there
Given that Pakistan’s hitters dug in and the pitch was flat, it is tough to draw too many conclusions from England’s performance with the ball.
It’s possible that the hosts lacked a little danger to take wickets.
Charlie Dean shared the new ball, which was costly, costing 46 runs in her four overs. Lauren Bell, the best seamer for England with five wickets in the two previous games, was rested. Lauren Filer bowled quickly in her place.
After patiently batting, Ameen and Feroza were both outscored by sweeps. The remarkably silent Ecclestone had trapped Ameen in front before Feroza was caught off guard by a top edge from Dean.
When Wyatt saw Muneeba Ali deftly dive to her left at backward point off Gibson, her stellar day just got better. Four wickets had fallen in 17 balls when Sadaf Shamas top-edged a pull off Filer, but Dar and Riaz stopped another collapse.
Although their collaboration was ill-intentioned, Pakistan’s total was also their best of the series, which at least offers hope for the upcoming 50-over contests.
“We’re tracking well,” Heather Knight, the England captain, said. “I am incredibly happy for Danni because of the way she has been hitting; she was absolutely due for a score.
“We can improve in a few areas, but overall, this series has seen strong performances from most of the cast.
It’s encouraging to see Pakistan put us under pressure with the bat. But I’m particularly happy with how we responded because we maintained our composure, regained the upper hand, and applied pressure to our opponent.”
Regarding Lauren Filer’s performance: “We are different because of her. She has been training incredibly hard behind the scenes, so I am really happy for her since she is quick and strikes the pitch hard.”
Regarding the T20 World Cup preparations: “We are on pace. Though there is always more we can accomplish, as a team, we are making progress. A few things are within our control, but a lot of individuals are performing, and even those who are not on the team are making an effort.”
Nida Dar, the captain of Pakistan, said, “We lost catches at a critical time, which cost us.” I have to look on the bright side; we want to shift the ODIs’ momentum.”
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