Lydia Greenway sets a new record as England regain the Ashes
28th August 2013Lydia Greenway blasted 80 not out as England Women claimed a five wicket victory in the second NatWest Women’s International T20, to regain the Ashes at the Ageas Bowl today. Greenway found the boundary on 11 occasions from her 64-ball innings to set the highest score by an English women in the Twenty20 format.
England bowlers Danni Hazell and Katherine Brunt were key to restricting Australia, who chose to bat first. They respectively returned figures of 2-11 and 1-15 from four-over allocations and apart from opener Meg Lanning’s 53-ball 60, the tourists struggled to score smoothly finishing with a modest 127 for seven from their 20 overs.
Kent duo Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway shared a 67-run partnership as the hosts held their nerve to chase down the target after the early loss of Heather Knight and Sarah Taylor. Edwards was caught in the deep by Jess Cameron for 24 as the hosts accelerated. Natalie Sciver then joined Greenway to bring England within 12 runs of victory before being run out, leaving Arran Brindle to partner Greenway as she hit the winning runs with six balls to spare.
Lydia Greenway said: “I think that’s probably my best innings, it was great to contribute and another good team performance. It’s a great feeling to have regained the Ashes.”
Charlotte Edwards said: “This is one of my proudest moments. To knock off the runs in the fashion we did and to regain the Ashes was fantastic. The team has shown a lot of character throughout the series to come back from the defeat at Lord’s, we knew we were nowhere near our best in that match and I’m really pleased with how we have turned things around.
“Lydia played a great innings today, one of the best in the series. Credit has to go to the whole squad including the coaching and support staff, everyone has worked hard and have been rewarded with us regaining the Ashes today and we still have one game left.”
The third NatWest Women’s International T20 to conclude the Women’s Ashes Series will be played at the Emirates Durham ICG on Saturday and followed by the presentation of the Women’s Ashes trophy.