Series: France in Germany July 2021
Venue: Krefeld
Format: T20I
Toss: Germany
Result: Germany by 9 wickets
Golden Eagles Land First Blow
A welcome return to international cricket for France was dampened somewhat by the comprehensive victory by the home team in the first of five T20 Internationals between the two teams.
Anu Doddaballapur won the toss for Germany and sent the visitors in to bat. The opening batters for France, Tara Britton (11) and Alix Brodin (4) started slowly but surely. Runs were difficult to come by from the German bowlers who were backed up by enthusiastic fielding, a combination that strangled the scoring rate. Also impacting the run rate was the lush outfield, very spongy turf preventing the ball from travelling far.
Brodin fell first, caught and bowled by Tina Gough who gobbled up a simple chance. This was followed by the removal of Britton by Bianca Maes Loch, caught by Anna Healey.
Jennifer King top scored for France with 13. The wickets weren’t tumbling but the run rate was stagnant and the final score of 65/5 after twenty overs was never going to trouble the German team. Sharanya Sadarangani was the best of the German bowlers taking 2-10 from three overs, showing another side to her game to go with batting and wicket keeping.
The German opening batters showed France how to deal with long grass: hit the ball in the air. Anna Healey was particularly aggressive, striking five boundaries in her 29 runs from 27 deliveries. Gough remained not out on 19 when Germany overtook the French total, winners by nine wickets.
It seemed a leisurely victory for the home team but the visitors would benefit from having had the run and have the opportunity to make amends in the following four matches.
Scores:
France 65/6 (Jennifer King 13, Sharanya Sadarangani 2-10) 20 overs
Germany 66/1 (Anna Healey 29, Tina Gough 19*) 11.2 overs
Player of the Match: Anna Healey