26 June, 2009
World Twenty20 champions England came back down to earth with a bump after it went down to a 34-run defeat to Australia in Derby.
England had beaten the same opponents last week in a thrilling run chase with Claire Taylor and Beth Morgan scoring 122 off 78 balls to reach the final of the World Twenty20 where it beat New Zealand.
While Taylor top-scored on Thursday with 31, England could only reach 6-117 in response to Australia's 3-151.
It was a good all-round performance by the visitors with openers Leah Poulton and Shelley Nitschke combining to build a stand of 55 off 36 deliveries before the former was out for 33.
Poulton signalled her intent when she took 10 off Laura Marsh in the first over, including two fours.
Nitschke joined in in the second over to hit Isa Guha for nine and the Australians were moving ominously, averaging more than nine an over, when Poulton was bowled by Holly Colvin after an innings that took in 22 deliveries and included seven fours.
Alex Blackwell came to the crease but just 18 runs later opener Nitschke was caught by Claire Taylor off Guha for 32.
Karen Rolton joined Blackwell and the pair put on 32 before the latter was out for 18.
Rolton, though, remained steadfast and finished unbeaten on 43 off 37 with Lauren Ebsary 24 not out off just 13 deliveries, including a four and a six.
England made five off its first over but at the end of the second Sarah Taylor was caught off the bowling of Rolton.
Charlotte Edwards was next out for 10 with the score on 17 meaning Claire Taylor and Morgan were reunited, the pair building a stand of 42 before the former was out after an innings that included four boundaries off 23 deliveries.
Morgan was out for 20 with 66 on the board, Lydia Greenway made 19 and Jenny Gunn was out for six.
Although Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent was unbeaten 23 and Nicky Shaw made six not out, England was nowhere near Australia.