Freya Davies & Georgia Elwiss impress for England Academy

Sussex's Freya Davies and Georgia Elwiss impressed as  England Academy Women provided a good challenge to Australia in the tourists’ first outing ahead of the Ashes, which start next Tuesday.

The Australian side will have had a few nerves after being reduced to 49 for three in reply to England’s 184 for seven, but a 77-run partnership between Rachael Haynes and Beth Mooney saw the visitors home by six wickets.

The Academy lost Maia Bouchier for a duck in the third over but Bryony Smith and Fran Wilson added 54 for the second wicket.

Smith ended with an excellent 68 from 84 balls before falling in the 25th over. Captain Georgia Elwiss then impressed with an unbeaten 48, putting on exactly 50 with Alice Davidson-Richards for the fifth wicket. Jess Jonassen picked up three for 19 from six overs as the pick of the Australian bowlers.

England got off to the perfect start with the ball, removing the dangerous Elyse Villani and Meg Lanning in the first five overs. Alyssa Healy hit a quick 35 before Freya Davies claimed her second wicket of the day. 

From there, though, the visitors settled into their stride. Haynes and Ellyse Perry added 60 before the quick-scoring Mooney joined Haynes to see Australia over the line with seven overs to spare.

Scorecard: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/15330#scorecard-videos

England take on Australia at The 1st Central Ground on Sunday 28th July. Click below for tickets!