England bounced back from a nightmare start to beat Pakistan in their first match of the summer, opening the third straight T20 series with a 53-run victory at Edgbaston.
England, who were aiming to maintain their good form with an eye on the Women’s T20 World Cup in October, were sluggish with just 4 for 11 in three overs after being asked to bat first on Saturday, but captain Heather He stumbled out of the trap until Knight stabilized the inning. She hit 49 off 44 pitches.
The hosts performed well, with Daniel Gibson hitting an unbeaten 41 off 21 deliveries, with Pakistan aiming to set a new record in the format after posting a competitive 163 for 6. By the middle of the game, he had reached 77 for three hits.
However, Pakistan’s chase never recovered as Sadaf Shamas was all out for 110 in 18.2 overs as they lost their last seven wickets for just 31 runs as they were all out for 35 runs off 24 balls.
Sarah Glenn was selected as part of England’s attacking team with 4 hits in 12 at bats in her first international appearance since leaving the recent tour to New Zealand with a concussion, while Lauren Bell contributed with 3 hits in 22 at bats. .
Women’s top-ranked T20 bowler Sophie Ecclestone took 1 for 17, equaling Catherine Silver-Brunt’s England record of 114 wickets in the format.
Ecclestone also made 19 not out in an unbroken 44-run stand alongside Gibson, with Knight hitting 67 off 27 balls, including four crucial catches from Amy Jones behind the stumps. He scored 37 runs and pushed England over 150 points.
Knight and Jones steadied the ship after a limp start that saw Maia Bouchier, fellow opener Danny Wyatt and Alice Capsey all collapse in the ring. On the other hand, their slump was resolved as Freya Kempf was exhausted due to a midfield mix-up with Knight. .
Jones, playing his 100th T20, set off with a calm attacking top-edge sweep, but Gibson upped the ante alongside Knight, and the pair made 41 off just 19 balls.
Knight was unable to reach his half-century due to a mistake until mid-on, but Gibson and Ecclestone tried to keep England from losing the momentum that had seen them add 85 runs from their last 44 runs, with Nat Silver-Brunt making a slight It was confirmed that he would be absent due to medical treatment. In the end it cost nothing.
Pakistan started brightly, taking 57 for 2 after the powerplay – England, in contrast, had 29 for 4 – but following Sadaf’s run-out, the home team’s spinners turned the screw. .
Glenn took two wickets in three balls before Bell wrapped up Pakistan’s innings to give England a 1-0 lead and the series resumes at Wantage Road on Friday.
