Raf Nicholson's report from Headingley
And that’s it from Headingley, replete in the sunshine. England can sup on their victory tonight, but the one-day series follows fast on its heels, starting on Thursday at Derby, followed by games at Taunton and Chelmsford. Pakistan must lick their wounds, and take heart from a better performance. We’ll be back later in the week, enjoy the sunshine and have a lovely evening!
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Captain talk
The Pakistan captain, Nida Dar: “It was a good surface. Improvement in the batting side, senior players took responsibility. If you push to the spaces you have runs. Diana Baig has been a key player, puts in the energy to do something for Pakistan. The crucial time we dropped catches, cost us a little bit. Take the positives.
The England captain, Heather Knight: “Good I thought, Really please for Danni Wyatt, in general we’ve had performances from a lot of players in this series. Pakistan have put us under some pressure, but we’ve stayed calm and tried to wrestle back control.
“Really please for Lauren Filer and bowling like that , our point of difference. We’re tracking really well for the World Cup, still got a few fine things to tune up, lots of people putting in performances. We haven’t played a huge amount of one-day cricket so looking forward to playing a bit more – we’ve only played nine games in the last 18 months.”
Presentation time: Players of the match and series
The player of the match is: Danni Wyatt! “I really like playing here,” she says. “I hate failing but that is part of the way we play T20 cricket, I started thinking about a hundred. I’ve enjoyed fielding, credit to our fielding coach Nick.”
Player of the series: Amy Jones. “I’m happy to have contributed,” she says. “I’ve spent a bit of time with the mental game out in New Zealand, trying to concentrate on one ball at a time. It is great fun to keep against the spinners, they keep me on my toes, what a line up we’ve got.”
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England duly complete a 3-0 whitewash, led by a smashing innings from Danni Wyatt, who played herself into form – albeit with a smidgen of good fortune (she was dropped three times). If Pakistan could only have held their chances in the field, they might have been looking at an altogether more gettable target – instead they had to squint as England disappeared into the distance in the final ten overs. They need, says Tammy Beaumont, to learn how to handle pressure better.
England win by 34 runs!
20th over: Pakistan 142-4 (Dar 29, Aliya Riaz 35) Ecclestone gets the last over at a baking Headingley, massages the ball between her fingers. Pakistan can’t muscle a boundary from it, just five singles, but the partnership of 69 between Dar and Riaz is Pakistan’s highest in T20s v England; the opening partnership between Feroza and Ameen of 60 was their second highest. So a thumping defeat for Pakistan, but visible improvement with the bat.
19th over: Pakistan 137-4 (Dar 27, Aliya Riaz 32) Gibson with the penultimate over, starts with high no ball, but Pakistan can’t profit off the free hit – just the one from it. A gorgeous golf shot brings Aliya Riaz two, then four pingoed back over Gibson’s head off a full toss. Pakistan finishing with style!
18th over: Pakistan 126-4 (Dar 25, Aliya Riaz 24) Dar picks up the momentum – nothing to lose at this stage – and mullers Dean straight into the crowd, before aiming to go again through deep mid wicket – NSB goes for the catch but ends up splat on her belly as the ball goes through her feet.
17th over: Pakistan 112-4 (Dar 12, Aliya Riaz 23) Aliya Riaz can’t make the most of a juicy long hop from Glenn, only picking up two – and there are no boundaries off the over.
16th over: Pakistan 107-4 (Dar 11, Aliya Riaz 19) Ecclestone dumps her hands on her head as Dar sweeps with gumption, the ball tumbling for four. Next ball, Dar tries to flick one into the off side. Ecclestone wants a REVIEW – Knight is persuaded, but the ball is missing. Dar survives a ripping spinner off the last ball.
15th over: Pakistan 102-4 (Dar 7, Aliya Riaz 18) Cheers for the Pakistan hundred, which comes up with a wide off Gibson. Ten from the over, Dar and Riaz cantering their singles and Dar gliding four.
14th over: Pakistan 92-4 (Dar 2, Aliya Riaz 15) Eleven from Filer’s last over. Two wides then Aliya lets fly at two misdirected balls, one flayed through the covers for four, the next back over Filer’s head for two more. Alex Hartley, on comms, is not impressed with the captaincy – thinks Filer should have been left for the tail.
13th over: Pakistan 80-4 (Dar 1, Aliya Riaz 6) Capsey at backward point leaks four through her legs off an unimpressed Glenn. A big appeal for lbw – but Knight not keen on the review.
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12th over: Pakistan 74-4 (Dar 0, Aliya Riaz 1) Super pace from Filer – Sadaf has time to drive her nicely down the drive for four before edging behind.
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WICKET! Sadaf c Jones b Filer 6 (Pakistan 73-4)
Sadaf throws herself at a fast short ball from Filer, and Jones leaps to capture.
WICKET! Muneeba c Wyatt b Dean (Pakistan 69-3)
A tigerish pounce from Wyatt at backward point, as Muneeba looks to tuck into an over-pitched ball from Gibson. 11th over: Pakistan 69-3 (Sadaf 2)
10th over: Pakistan 67-2 (Muneeba 3, Sadaf 1) At the same stage in their innings, England were 69-2, but Pakistan have lost both their set batters. Feroza picks up four from Dean’s first ball before meeting her downfall.
WICKET! Feroza c Filer b Dean 30 (Pakistan 64-2)
Oh dear, another sweep to fall. Feroza top edges with one hand, and Filer on the edge of the circle makes no mistake.
WICKET! Ameen lbw Ecclestone 26 (Pakistan 60-1)
9th over: Pakistan 56-0 (Feroza 26, Ameen 22) Ecclestone turns the screw with four dot balls, Ameen relieves the pressure with a sweep for four, but then goes to sweep again and is caught on the back foot. Looks as if she’s going to review but changes her mind – unfortunately for her, as replays show glove in the mix.
8th over: Pakistan 56-0 (Feroza 26, Ameen 22) England racing through these overs in a flash, before Pakistan realise they are happening. A tight over by Glenn, just four from it, and including a review for a stumping. An enthusiastic crowd, in hats and caps, girl and woman heavy, watch intently.
7th over: Pakistan 52-0 (Feroza 24, Ameen 20) Feroza, light on her feet, shimmies Gibson over long off for four.
6th over: Pakistan 45-0 (Feroza 17, Ameen 20) Ecclestone, long sleeves, flowing pony tail. Has Feroza’s number with her first ball, but the second is hammered straight bac kpast her for four. At the end of the power play, Pakistan remain ahead of England at the same stage.
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5th over: Pakistan 40-0 (Feroza 12, Ameen 20) Time for the in-form Sarah Glenn. Ameen, back in her crease, shunts her through square leg for four. Pakistan are ahead of where England were at this stage.
4th over: Pakistan 34-0 (Feroza 11, Ameen 15) Love Filer’s constipated chicken impression at the start of her run. Bowling in the low seventies. Just a single and wide off the over, Ameen can’t take advantage of a slightly haywire line.
3rd over: Pakistan 32-0 (Feroza 11, Ameen 14) A super start this by Pakistan. Ameen drives Dean through extra cover for four, then cuts, heavy on the back foot, for four more. Four wides as the ball darts legside then Feroza scoops the last for four more round the corner. Game, at the moment, on!
2nd over: Pakistan 14-0 (Feroza 7, Ameen 5) It’s Filer, tall, wily and fast. The second ball is a huge no-ball, but Pakistan can only pick up a single from the free hit – an Exocet yorker. Feroza gets a bit of varnish on a leg side ball, which flies down to the rope.
1st over: Pakistan 7-0 (Feroza 2, Ameen 5) Charlie Dean with the first over – three singles then Ameen stylishly dispatches her through the covers for four.
Here comes the chase!
Pakistan need 177 to win.
An entertaining romp of an innings from England, containing fireworks from Wyatt, who was dropped three times, some chaotic fielding from Pakistan, and an England mini-collapse. Back shortly for the Pakistan chase.
WICKET! Filer run out (Shamas/Baig) 2 (England 176-9)
20th over: England 176-9 (Dean 7) Chaos! Three wickets in the final over, four byes from a directionless full toss from Baig, and a chaotic run out from overthrows off the final ball.
WICKET! Glenn b Baig 1 (England 174-9)
Done by a slower ball, leg stump sent on its way.
WICKET! Ecclestone c Riaz b Baig 2 (England 168-8)
Ecclestone has a go, and Riaz collects in front of the Western Terrace.
19th over: England 168-7 (Dean 6, Ecclestone 2) Eight off the penultimate over, Dean scooping four from Sana off her first ball.
WICKET! Jones c Waheeda b Fatima 26 (England 162-7)
Jones attacks, wantonly, but it is a slower ball and it falls to Waheeda at point who catches, drops, catches,drops, then finally holds on , dropping to her knees in relief.
18th over: England 160-6 (Jones 25, Ecclestone 1) Jones in the zone. A sweep for four off Iqbal, then, gorgeously, she dances and drives over extra cover for four.
WICKET! Gibson c Sadia b Dar 13 (England 149-6)
17th over: England 149-6 (Jones 15) A dolly from Dar, Gibson stretches to sweep, but straight to short fine leg, who catches it fully on the second time of asking.
16th over: England 141-5 (Jones 9, Gibson 11) Gibson top-edges, up, and to third, but is saved because Waheeda Akhtar has over stepped! Two fours from the over – Gibson on the charge – a crash through square leg and flying top-edge.
15th over: England 129-5 (Jones 8, Gibson 1) Two wickets in the over, but England still pick nine off it, as Jones pancakes Dar through midwicket for four.
WICKET! Capsey run-out (Sidra Ameen) 1 England 122-5
A few springs falling off the England cart here, the third wicket to fall in six balls. Jones calls for a quick single, it looked very doable but Capsey doesn’t break too much out of a trot. Where, exclaims Alex Hartley on comms, has the dive gone?
WICKET! Knight c Diana Baig b Nida Dar 12 (England 122-4)
Catching practice for extra cover.
14th over: England 120-3 (Capsey 1, Knight 12) Capsey stroll in at last, big sighs of relief all round for Pakistan.
WICKET! Wyatt c Sadaf Shamas b 87 (England 118-3)
Two balls after letting her slip through her fingers, Sadaf Shamas holds on at deep cover! After being dropped three times, Wyatt is at last on her way. She’s furious with herself but has the bicarb and vinegar into this innings.
13th over: England 111-2 (Wyatt 81, Knight 10) Can Fatima Sana break Wyatt’s hold? Not yet. A couple from the first ball, then Wyatt leaps and delicately angles the bat to upper cut the ball for four. A cracking crowd of 10,00 enjoying this England dominance. Ah they enjoy that too as Wyatt drives, upishly, but extra cover can’t hold on. The fifty partnership off 25 balls.
12th over: England 101-2 (Wyatt 72, Knight 9) Two more big boundaries from Wyatt, who has bashed herself out of some indifferent early-season form. Pakistan must be ruing that drop when she was on 12.
Fifty for Wyatt!
11th over: England 89-2 (Wyatt 62, Knight 7) Wyatt has had enough of faffing about and slams Dar’s second ball high and straight, tantalising the fielder, but passing her and landing over the rope. Then a slap over square leg, bring up Wyatt’s half century off 34 balls. A full toss is bashed for four more, then a misfield at backward point brings two. And another complete shocker on the rope at long off brings four more. Twenty from the over.
Sounds like a great morning had by all at Headingley:
Spending the morning at the Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket Conference. There are about 300 people here - mostly volunteers who work incredibly hard to grow the women’s game. Great buzz! #GirlsinCricketYorkshire pic.twitter.com/Y4P3g1g2nw
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) May 19, 2024
10th over: England 69-2 (Wyatt 42, Knight 7) No sign of Capsey yet, as Knight joins Wyatt. An ugly full toss from Waheeda is shovelled for four by Knight. It turns out to have been a no-ball, but Knight can only pick up a single off the free hit. At the half way stage, England haven’t yet hit their straps.
9th over: England 60-2 (Wyatt 40, Knight 1) Dar brings herself on. A tissuey reverse-sweep from Sciver-Brunt brings four. She rubs her knee, which she hurt a couple of overs ago diving to make her ground. NSB then plumps for a repeat of the reverse-sweep, but Sidra Ameen is waiting.
WICKET! Nat Sciver-Brunt c Sidra Ameen b Nida Dar (England 59-2)
A dinky reverse-sweep, like you might play on the beach, goes high and drops straight to backward point.
8th over: England 52-1 (Wyatt 38, Sciver-Brunt 3) Waheeda back, but a couple of wides in the first three balls give England easy runs. Wyatt brings up fifty with a dab down to backward point. Clear blue sky at Headingley, well defined shadows creeping under the fielders feet.
7th over: England 46-1 (Wyatt 35, Sciver-Brunt 2) Wyatt eyes up a low full toss and sweeps Fatima for four; next ball Fatima appeals – Wyatt appears to be plumb in front. Indeed, she’s given out on the field, but reviews straight away which shows a deflection onto the pads.
6th over: England 40-1 (Wyatt 29, Sciver-Brunt 2) A dozy mistake from Bouchier who was halfway down the pith before she realised that the ball was on the way back to her stumps. Wyatt just watched, unmoved, from the other end. Nat Sciver-Brunt comes in above Alice Capsey. The end of the power play.
WICKET! Bouchier run out (Diana) 8 (England 36-1)
Bouchier drives, and advances down the pitch, but the ball goes straight to point and all Diana Baig needs to do is dolly the ball back to the keeper. Exactly the same dismissal as during the 2nd T20! Bouchier waves her bat in frustration.
5th over: England 36-0 (Bouchier 8, Wyatt 27) Fatima Sana now as Nida Dar rings the changes. At extra cover BAig cuts off a booming Bouchier drive. Four dots, a single, then the pressure punctured as Wyatt pierces the ring and picks up four.
4th over: England 31-0 (Bouchier 7, Wyatt 23) Time for some spin, from Sadia Iqbal. She manages to stop the boundaries, but there are still six off the over.
3rd over: England 25-0 (Bouchier 5, Wyatt 19) A life for Wyatt! She drives (on 12), is done by the swing, and keeper Muneeba Ali leaps to her right: but cannot hold on. Insult to injury for the bowler as she slogs across the line and picks up four more. A near run out adds up to a busy over. England have started brightly.
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2nd over: England 16-0 (Bouchier 3, Wyatt 12) Waheeda Akhtar from the football stand end. The first ball is a leg-side wide, then the single accumulation continues until Wyatt shimmies down the wicket and shovels across the line for four; next ball is a lofted off drive for four more.
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1st over: England 4-0 (Bouchier 2, Wyatt 2) Diana Baig strides in, a bouncy blow dry, looking for some swing. Not much there and England ease together four singles.
On stroll Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt, followed by Pakistan – past the flames (surely these are passe?) and into the sunshine: it’s a scorcher out there!
England win the toss...
…and will bat! Runs a go-go. Knight explains her choices: “a reasonable surface, it might do a bit early but then dry out in the northern sun.”
Pakistan XI
Pakistan XI: Sidra Ameen, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Muneeba Ali (wk), Gull Feroza, Nida Dar (c), Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Diana Baig, Waheeda Akhtar, Sadia Iqbal.
Batter Ayesha Zafar replaces spinner Nashra Sandhu.
England XI
England XI: Maia Bouchier, Danielle Wyatt, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Danielle Gibson, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell.
Lauren Filer replaces the rested Lauren Bell.
Preamble
Good afternoon! Sorry for the sluggish Sunday start this end: to sum up, a picture-perfect sunny day at Headingley, the final of this three-match T20 series, England 2-0 up, an ODI flurry to follow. Pakistan looking for a consolation win – England determined to make it a whitewash.
