Sophia Dunkley insists England are “100 per cent” behind skipper Heather Knight despite seeing Australia end their Ashes hopes with a convincing 57-run defeat in the primary T20 international.
Trailing 6-0 within the series as they walked out on the Sydney Cricket Ground after losing each of the three ODIs, Knight’s side were well beaten with 4 overs to spare handy the hosts an unassailable lead with two more T20s and a Test match to come back.
A poor start Down Under had prompted query marks over Knight’s reign as captain and, with only pride now left to play for, the criticism has intensified.
Nevertheless, asked about Knight’s leadership afterwards, Dunkley said: “Look, I feel we just back Heather 100 per cent to guide us on the market. She’s done the job amazingly for the last… I don’t understand how long it’s nevertheless it’s been for a very long time.
“She’s a large a part of our changing room, a large leader and I back her 100 per cent to assist turn this team around.
Sticking Together
“All we are able to do is stick together now and fight as hard as we are able to for the last three games and absolutely back her 100 per cent as our captain. I’m sure she will bring the very best out of us within the last couple of games, obviously.”
Having won the toss and opting to place Australia in, Knight saw any initiative snatched away from her as wayward bowling and poor fielding allowed the hosts to get off to a flying start which was aided in no small part by a 51-ball 75 from Beth Mooney.
Her innings provided the backbone of a complete of 198 for seven to go away the tourists needing to match their record successful chase of 199 to maintain the series alive.
Dunkley’s 59 from just 24 balls, which included 4 sixes and 6 fours, briefly gave England hope as they reached the halfway stage on 96 for 3, but Knight’s departure for 18 stalled the momentum they usually ultimately fell well short.
Too Many Runs
Knight told TNT Sports: “We probably gave them 20, 30 too many runs, I believed. If we’d kept them to twenty, 30 less with just a little bit more in the sector, I feel we’d have been in with an actual shout.
“Sophia Dunkley gave us a probability, the way in which she batted – it’s such a superb wicket as well, it felt prefer it was on – but just just a little little bit of mis-execution and if we’d kept to them 20, 30 less, we’d have been in the sport obviously.”
England could yet draw the series and that will likely be their focus as they prepare for Thursday’s second T20 on the Manuka Oval.
Nevertheless, stand-in Australia skipper Tahlia McGrath had a warning for England.
Asked what her team needed to work on, McGrath said: “England got here really hard at us in the facility play and we probably leaked just a few too many there, in order that’s definitely an area to work on, after which just continuing to boss it in the sector and really placed on a very good performance there.”
Meanwhile, there was higher news at the boys’s Physical Disability Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, where England will meet India in Tuesday’s final.
Callum Flynn’s side finished second within the group stage with 4 wins from six matches but might want to avenge a 29-run loss to their fellow finalists to secure the primary international silverware of the 12 months.
READ MORE: Beth Mooney stars as Australia beat England in first T20 to retain Women’s Ashes
