Farrant dazzles on England Women’s debut
Friday 5th July 2013
Kent's Natasha Farrant took two scalps in an over, en route to figures of 2-15 from four on her England debut. The Kent Women's cricketer and Kent Cricket Academy scholar shone as England Women crushed Pakistan with a 70-run win in the first of two NatWest Twenty20 internationals at Loughborough today.
Sarah Taylor’s first fifty of the summer also underpinned England’s impressive win as she eased to 57 from 50 deliveries today.
Wicketkeeper-batter Taylor, who played in England’s two one-day international defeats of the same opponents this week, hit 57 from 50 balls as the hosts posted 145 for seven after winning the toss.
Taylor and captain Charlotte Edwards, who made 46 from just 33 deliveries, shared a second-wicket stand of 57 until the latter was bowled by Javeria Rauf. T20I debutante Natalie Sciver chipped in with 19 before England lost late wickets, including Taylor, as they upped the ante.
Three economical breakthroughs from off-spinner Danni Wyatt, who opened the bowling and ended her second spell with 3-16 from four overs, along with Farrant’s contribution, undermined Pakistan’s reply. Nahida Khan top-scored for the tourists on 28 not out but it was too little.
The second International T20 of the day saw Pakistan claim a narrow one-run victory as a young England top order struggled to score in the early overs, after restricting the visitors to 116 for eight.
Wickets were shared two-a-piece for spinners Wyatt and Dani Hazell with left arm seamer Farrant striking once again in just her second international appearance.
Jenny Gunn’s run-a-ball innings of 22 clawed the game back but despite Arran Brindle’s 39 off 27, England lost by one run, as Brindle was run-out on the last ball.
Charlotte Edwards said: “I think we played really well this morning that’s how we want to play our Twenty20 cricket, we got off to a good start and then I think we bowled extremely well to restrict them to 75, so all went to plan really.
“It was great to see Natasha Farrant really shine on her debut, I was impressed by her and the way she dealt with it all, as did all the other girls. That’s been a great thing about this tour; we’ve been able to blood a few new players which is always good for the future. They all thoroughly deserve their opportunity following their performances in domestic and super fours cricket, and I think it’s given them an insight into the international game and hopefully an appetite to stay in the team and push on from here.
“There is a bigger picture here and we knew that going into the second game today. Obviously we go out to win every single game we play, but with what’s coming up over the next 12 months there was a real opportunity in the second game today to see other players in certain roles. Although we lost the game there are positives for us to take, we won’t be dwelling on it, for us as a squad there is definitely a bigger picture.
“I’m very much looking forward now to the Women’s Ashes Series, I know all the players are as well. We’ve got a good few weeks now of preparation now before it all starts at Wormsley on the 11th of August.”
The England squad for the Women’s Ashes Series will be announced on Sky Sports on Sunday during the interval of the FLT20 between Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
Photo: Matthew Lewis / Getty Images