Austria in Italy August 2021
Venue: Roma Cricket Ground, Spinaceto
Format: T20I
Toss: Italy
Result: Italy by 1 run
Italy Make Bookends
A nail biting last ball thriller resulted in a 1 run victory for the home team giving them a victory either side of Austria’s three to finish the series 2-3.
Kumudu Peddrick won the toss for Italy and elected to bat. As she has done twice previously Kumudu let her bat do the talking and led the way top scoring with 28.
Kumudu Peddrick won the toss for Italy and elected to bat. As she has done twice previously Kumudu let her bat do the talking and led the way top scoring with 28. Kumudu Peddrick
Kumudu Peddrick won the toss for Italy and elected to bat. As she has done twice previously Kumudu let her bat do the talking and led the way top scoring with 28. Teshani Araliya (25*) took over from the skipper and was there at the end as the home team registered a modest target of 99/5.
While captain Gandhali Bapat (37) was at the crease it looked as though Austria would cruise home but when she was runout by Dayana marasunghe all momentum was lost. It was left for number eleven Valentina Avdylaj to score two from the final delivery. It was a dot ball and Italy scraped home by 1 run.
Both teams can be very proud of their achievement for the series. Austria won their first bilateral series and for the first time won three games in succession. Andrea-Mae Zepeda passed 300 career runs, still the only Austrian to get past three figures. Valentina Avdylaj‘s 4-12 in game four is the best bowling performance by an Austrian.
For Italy, to even win one match was special but to win their very first T20 International was outstanding. To hold their nerve and win the last ball thriller in game five was a wonderful moment. They have players with plenty of potential. Let’s see more of this team soon.
Scores:
Italy 99/5 (Kumudu Peddrick 28, Teshani Araliya25* ) 20 overs
Austria 98/8 (Gandhali Bapat 37, Dishani Samarawickrama 2-9, Sharon Withanage 2-21) 20 overs
Player of the Match: not announced