Austria in Italy August 2021
Venue: Roma Cricket Ground, Spinaceto
Format: T20I
Toss: Austria
Result: Austria by 7 runs
Zepeda Takes Austria to New High
Andrea-Mae Zepeda equaled her own record score of 43 as she guided Austria to their highest score in T20 Internationals. The 120/5 proved to be to great a task to overhaul by the Italians when they fell short by 7 runs.
Conditions were quite mild, 27 degrees but later in the day for game four in this double header, it would be 37 degrees. Austria captain Gandhali Bapat won the toss and elected to bat and she also contributed runs as Austria went well past their previous high score of 107.
It seems if Italy are to perform then the captain Kumudu Peddrick must be present and she was from first ball to last, scoring Italy’s first ever half century with 50 not out. She certainly did her part and was ably assisted by Teshani Araliya (22), but the run rate kept climbing and it was simply to steep a hill to climb.
Italy fell short by just 7 runs, giving Austria a 2-1 series lead and the first time the team had won back to back matches. Who ever won this first match had a distinct advantage for the next game was due to start immediately following this one and being one up as the teams squared off in 37 degree heat was far better than being on the chase and one down.
It was also becoming evident that Zepeda was enjoying her game much more, relieved of the burden of the captaincy and the team appears to be responding well to the new one.
Scores:
Austria 120/5 (Andrea-Mae Zepeda 43, Gandhali Bapat 17, Sharon Withanage 3-32 ) 20 overs
Italy 113/3 (Kumudu Peddrick 50*, Teshani Araliya 22) 20 overs
Player of the Match: TBA