Series: Austria in Italy August 2021
Venue: Roma Cricket Ground, Spinaceto
Format: T20I
Toss: Austria
Result: Italy by 8 wickets
Fairytale Start for the Hosts
A historic day in historic Rome when the Italian women’s cricket team took part in their first Two International and celebrated by winning. In the first of five T20 Internationals against the visiting Austrian team the locals won by eight wickets. It was a dream start for the newest team on the international stage.
Austria’s new captain Gandhali Bapat, also on debut, won the toss and elected to bat. The Italian attack displayed some nerves but were generally steady in their approach and none better than 46 year old Dishani Samarawickrama who took 1-14 from her four overs.
For the Austrians they were led by the bat of former skipper Andrea-Mae Zepeda who batted the entire innings for 33, helping the team to the largest ever total in T20Is of 107/3. The runs could have come at a quicker pace but a score of over 100 against a team on debut should have been enough.
The Italian batting was brisk from the beginning, the captain Kumudu Peddrick leading the way with a run a ball 47 not out. She was there at the end when Italy passed the Austrian total with eight wickets in hand. Helping her along the way, Teshani Araliya with 20 not out and Samarawickrama who retired hurt on 16.
The victory places the Italians in a good position leading the series 1-0 from the get go. So comprehensive was the victory that Austria will need to bounce back smartly, but no-one can begrudge the Italians their victory on their fairy-tale start to international cricket.
Scores:
Austria 107/3 (Andrea-Mae Zepeda 33, Dishani Samarawickrama 1-14) 20 overs
Italy 108/2 (Kumudu Peddrick 47*, Valentina Avdylaj 2-9) 16.1 overs
Player of the Match: not announced