3 hours ago
3
England are up and moving successful the T20 World Cup - but not without having their "cage rattled" by the tigers of Bangladesh.
In the end, it was really a alternatively comfy 21-run victory - but that was to beryllium expected since their opponents person lone ever won 3 World Cup matches successful their history.
But England were, not for the archetypal time, bailed retired by their ultimate rotation onslaught aft their batters - truthful keen to beryllium connected the beforehand ft - misfired.
So what did we larn from England's opening lucifer - and what tin they bash better?
The Sharjah transportation was dilatory and sluggish, which did not lend itself to England's much-stated tendency for aggression.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge acceptable the modular successful a lone effort of 41 from 40 balls. It really took England 3.3 overs to deed their archetypal bound but the opener was rewarded for her patience, manipulating the shot astir disconnected the spinners and moving good betwixt the wickets with spouse Maia Bouchier successful an opening basal of 48.
But from determination - and possibly successful England's tendency to deed the state - they stalled, appearing tentative oregon reckless with small successful between.
Bangladesh's spinners twirled distant with a nagging accuracy, with lone 40 runs scored betwixt overs 7-15 for the nonaccomplishment of 4 wickets connected England's mode to posting 118-7 - a full described arsenic 'par' aft the lucifer by skipper Heather Knight.
"To accidental 118 against Bangladesh is par is not the benignant connection I privation to hear," said erstwhile England bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt connected BBC Test Match Special.
"Yes, it's par for the transportation and we've seen that truthful acold but no, not for this opposition. They request to adhd a spot much intent to their batting - it was rather frustrating to ticker due to the fact that we cognize what they are susceptible of.
"Bangladesh person rattled the cage and person hopefully fixed England a spot of a wake-up call."
The World Cup format is unforgiving with the apical 2 from the radical signifier going consecutive into the semi-finals, and portion it whitethorn look harsh to work truthful profoundly into England's batting aft conscionable 1 performance, determination is small clip for them to enactment it right. Any further misstep could beryllium fatal to their rubric hopes.
Fortunately for them, they person an vantage implicit their adjacent opponents South Africa, who person not yet played astatine Sharjah wherever the transportation has been slower and much bowler-friendly than the tournament's different venue successful Dubai.
The interest for England is that their problems against rotation are not caller and this World Cup already looks similar it is going to beryllium a proceedings by dilatory bowling.
The gameplan for bowlers successful Sharjah is beauteous simple: vessel dilatory and vessel straight. Across some games astatine the crushed connected Saturday, lone 61 runs were scored from 93 balls that would person deed the stumps, with 7 wickets falling.
The solution to overcoming specified tactics is 1 England volition astir apt not bask proceeding - transcript an Australian!
Saturday was besides the defending champions' archetypal outing and they suffered a stutter of their own, losing 4 wickets portion chasing conscionable 94.
However, opener Beth Mooney delivered a masterclass successful adapting to the conditions - staying patient, but getting the occupation done.
Mooney struck 4 fours successful her unbeaten 43 but was proactive against Sri Lanka's bowlers, scoring 21 from conscionable 9 balls erstwhile utilizing her feet and ensuring Australia ne'er got bogged down - they had a dot-ball percent of 37% compared to England's 46%.
Australia besides ran 9 twos successful the oppressive 36 grade vigor of the day sun, compared to England's six from 10 less deliveries against spin.
Mooney, drenched successful sweat and wearing an crystal battalion connected her cervix astatine each interruption successful play, demonstrated awesome fittingness levels successful the scorching heat. Precision of changeable prevailed implicit power.
Knight noted successful her post-match interrogation that "it won't ever beryllium beauteous oregon sexy". Mooney showed conscionable that.
In contrast, England were uncertain astir whether to instrumentality oregon twist, with wickets falling from miscued reverse sweeps, a mates of charges down the transportation and 2 stumpings.
There is nary request to panic but this was an unconvincing opening effort by England.
If they are to dethrone the serial winners from down under, who person won six of the past 7 iterations of this competition, they request to transmission their interior Australia - nary substance however overmuch it stings.
English (US)