Winter Watch: Chris Jordan, Danni Wyatt and Freya Davies in T20I action

A world away from Storm Dennis and the bitterly cold weather in Hove, a host of Sussex stars have been in action across the globe this week, in far warmer climes.

Chris Jordan was on the biggest stage, impressing for England as they won a thrilling T20I series on Sunday afternoon.

Eoin Morgan’s side began the T20 stage of their South Africa tour on Wednesday, with the hosts batting first and CJ taking two wickets in two balls during the final over.

The fast-bowler was denied a hat-trick by Dale Steyn, but Jordan ran out Andile Phehlukwayo with the last ball of the innings and finished with figures of 2-28.

England required 178 to win, and looked to be coasting when Jason Roy hit a 22-ball fifty, but when he fell for 70, and captain Morgan was caught on the boundary for 52 off 34, the tourists collapsed to lose by one run.

Despite that disappointing defeat, England were unchanged for the second T20I, and were put into bat first in Durban.

Once more, Roy looked imperious at the top of the order, while Ben Stokes finished unbeaten on 47* and a stunning cameo from Moeen Ali saw the Worcestershire man hit 39 off just 11 balls.

England needed to defend 204 after Ali’s amazing late flurry of runs, and Jordan was his side’s standout bowler in another nail-biting encounter.

With figures of 2-31 and an economy rate of 7.75 from his four overs, CJ dismissed JJ Smuts and Phehlukwayo with consecutive deliveries, but was again denied a hat-trick when Dwaine Pretorious managed to keep out a rasping, 92mph yorker.

After Jordan’s heroics, South Africa required 15 off the final over, but Tom Curran managed to hold his nerve as England won by just two runs.

That thriller in Durban meant Sunday afternoon’s clash at Centurion with the series decider, and South Africa looked set on securing victory with a lightning fast start.

Temba Bavuma and skipper, Quinton de Kock put on 84 in just seven overs before Heinrich Klassen smashed 66 off 33 balls and David Miller finished not out on 35 as Jordan finished with 0-49.

It was a blistering innings from the hosts, who set England a daunting 223 to win, but Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow weren’t phased.

The pair raced each-other to fifty, with Buttler’s coming off 23 balls and Bairstow’s off 27, but Morgan’s 23-ball half-century was the quickest – and the joint fastest T20I ever hit by an Englishman – and he saw his side home with five balls remaining.

It was a fantastic series victory, and after taking four wickets, Jordan now needs just eight more to become his country’s leading wicket-taker in T20I history.

Danni Wyatt and Freya Davies were also in T20 action over the weekend as England step up their preparations for the World Cup, which starts on Friday.

New Zealand batted first in Adelaide winning the toss, and set England 135 to win, with Davies taking figures of 0-27.

In reply, Wyatt opened England’s innings alongside Amy Jones and the Sussex star hit 42 off 32 balls, with four fours and two sixes.

When Wyatt was eventually dismissed by Leigh Kasperek, captain Heather Knight led the charge, and thanks to her unbeaten 45, England sealed a six-wicket victory with two overs remaining.

England’s next warm-up match is against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, before their tournament gets underway against South Africa on Sunday in Adelaide.

Staying Down Under, Laurie Evans helped England Lions finish the unofficial ODI leg of their Australia tour with a 52-run win against a New South Wales XI.

The Sussex batsman hit 24 as the tourists finished their 50 overs on 293-9, before Mason Crane and Lewis Gregory took 3-56 and 2-17 respectively to dismiss the Australian side for 241.

Evans has now returned to the UK, with Ollie Robinson flying in the opposite direction to join the Lions for their unofficial Test match against Australia A.

The Lions are currently warming up for Saturday’s encounter with a three-day fixture against a Cricket Australia XI, with Gregory’s side declaring on 613-8. In reply, the hosts are 469-8 at stumps on day two.

Travis Head has been in Sheffield Shield action, captaining South Australia as they convincingly beat Western Australia by 109 runs over the weekend.

Head, who will play as our overseas this season, hit 46 in the first innings and 49 in the second.