With a masterful performance in their second T20 World Cup warm-up match against the West Indies, Annabel Sutherland has once again made the case for Australia to be promoted up the T20I ladder.
After being sent in by Hayley Matthews at The Sevens Stadium, Sutherland’s 38 from 28 deliveries and a late cameo from spinner Alana King (21no from 13) helped Australia rebound from 5-59 to produce a more formidable 8-144.
The all-rounder then claimed two wickets in two balls from her lone over, including the crucial scalp of Deandra Dottin.
Australia won by 35 runs when the Windies were bowled out for 109 in 17.5 overs due to a stunning collapse of 9–17 caused by her double strike.
After the game, Sutherland remarked, “It was nice to get some time out in the middle personally.”
“It was one of the more resilient performances from the squad, and the lower order needs to have a chance in the middle of a practice match. To know more highlights and cricket news, Betpro log in.
It was not all plain sailing, as Qiana Joseph of the West Indies, who faced Tayla Vlaeminck in the Powerplay and scored 16 runs off the quick’s opening over, placed pressure on the Australian attack.
Ellyse Perry, bowling for the first time since Australia gathered in Mackay last month, finally ended her assault in the tenth over when she was caught at far off for a 29-ball 36, capping a 68-run first-wicket stand.
When Sutherland entered the game, the Windies were comfortably up at 1-92 in the 14th over. She bowled Shemaine Campell (9) and caught Dottin lbw a ball later.
It was a procession; after taking wickets with successive deliveries, King (4-30) and Vlaeminck (3-33) also found themselves on hat-tricks.
The Windies collapsed to 109 all out from 1-92, and Vlaeminck looked impressive in her comeback performance, taking two wickets in particular: Matthews, caught behind for 42, and a fantastic yorker that bowled Nerissa Crafton for a first-ball duck.
The Australian top order faced pressure earlier in conditions that proved more difficult than during their first warm-up match against England at the ICC Academy.
Alyssa Healy (20 off 18) was unable to capitalize on her start, and Phoebe Litchfield (20 groin soreness) and Grace Harris (20 calves) stayed out of the game, with their availability for Saturday’s opening game still unknown. Beth Mooney (8), Georgia Wareham (7), Ellyse Perry (4), and Tahlia McGrath (4) all left for single-digit scores.
After Gardner settled in for a run-a-ball 31, Sutherland gave the innings impetus by hitting two massive sixes, which are interestingly the first by an Australian player since the beginning of the New Zealand series.
“Any time in the middle is valuable and I try to take my opportunity where I can,” Sutherland stated.
Although they will get a first look at the location once they get there for the game on Saturday around lunchtime, Sutherland expressed her optimism that the two warm-ups would have them ready for what lies ahead.
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“(Experiencing) the conditions was a big one, and that sharing of information, and learning to adapt – we’re in new conditions that we haven’t really played in as a group before,” Sutherland stated.
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