Phoebe Litchfield has change into the second youngest Australian girl to hit an ODI century, serving to take her nation to a snug 10-wicket win over Ireland in Belfast.
Chasing 218 for victory, Litchfield hit an unbeaten 106 and Annabel Sutherland hit 109 not out to assist Australia attain the goal in 35.5 overs.
The win wraps the sequence up 2-0 for Australia, and ends their northern summer season tour after drawing the multi-format Ashes sequence with England to retain the Ashes.
Playing with out Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes or Megan Schutt in a global for the primary time in 14 years, Australia confirmed a glimpse of the longer term within the win.
Irish-born seamer Kim Garth took 3-34 towards her previous aspect, whereas Ashleigh Gardner additionally claimed 3-38.
In reply, Sutherland and Litchfield took maintain as each struck their maiden white-ball worldwide centuries.
Sutherland’s 109 from 101 balls included 11 boundaries, whereas Litchfield’s 106 from 114 featured 14 fours.
At 20 years and 101 days, the NSW prodigy additionally turned the youngest Australian girl aside from Meg Lanning to attain a century in a 50-over match.
“It means a lot,” Litchfield mentioned.
“We spoke about trying to have a better start up top, and I have been pretty dry in the runs column.
“So for Bellsy (Sutherland) and I to exit and win the sport, was fairly cool.”
The win came after Healy and Perry were both ruled out of the match and withdrawn from The Hundred franchise competition in England through injury.
Perry hurt her knee while batting in Australia’s ODI win over Ireland on Tuesday, and has now been ruled out for up to six weeks with the injury.
And after battling through the Ashes with a fracture in her left index finger and right ring finger, Healy suffered a fresh break in her index finger on Tuesday after another blow.
Australia expect both to be fit to return for their next international against West Indies in early October, while Litchfield will replace Healy at the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.
Healy and Perry’s absences do come as a sizeable blow to The Hundred, given they are two of the biggest names in women’s cricket.
Fellow Australian Heather Graham pulled out of the event earlier this week because of a calf damage, whereas Mitch Marsh and Glenn Maxwell will each skip the boys’s Hundred.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
