Women’s Ashes 2019: England Women v Australia Women, 2nd T20I: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

Australia Women first retained The Ashes. Then they won it outright thanks to Meg Lanning’s world record 133. However, they still have one thing to achieve: to win the remaining two T20Is and leave England undefeated, subjecting the hosts to further humiliation.

The first T20I exemplified the difference between the sides more than any other match, perhaps even more than the third ODI. Meg Lanning, who had had a decent (but not spectacular) tour till this point, raced to a hundred in 51 balls and added another 33 off the next 12.

Lanning’s 133 – a world record score in Women’s T20Is – propelled Australia to 226/3. England never recovered after they were reduced to 22/4 by Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt: they finished on 133/9.

What next for England? They still have something to look forward to – to clinch the last 2 matches and win at least the T20Is 2-1, but that is all. But then, Australia are the world champions in the format…

Head to head

England lead 17-15 here, but recency backs Australia: they have won the last 4 matches between these two sides.

Key players

Nat Sciver (England Women): Sciver had an impressive Test debut, and had stood tall amidst the collapse in the first T20I after impressing with ball. It is time, then, for her to rise to the challenge to pull off something magical to reverse the tide.

Meg Lanning (Australia Women): Lanning’s explosion was only a matter of time. She demolished every English bowler, clinically dispatching them to every corner of the ground – and often outside. And since this is Lanning, more of these may follow.

Likely XIs

England Women: Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Tammy Beaumont, Nat Sciver, Heather Knight (c), Lauren Winfield, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Marsh, Kate Cross.

Australia Women: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Sophie Molineux, Jess Jonassen, Georgia Wareham, Delissa Kimmince, Megan Schutt.

Prediction

Australia to win and inch closer to finishing undefeated.