Austria in Italy August 2021
Venue: Roma Cricket Ground, Spinaceto
Format: T20I
Toss: Italy
Result: Austria by 6 wickets
Austria Take Series with Third Victory
The second match of a double header looked as though both teams were in a desperate rush to finish the game and seek protection in the shade from the 37 degree heat. It resulted in a victory for the visitors in both game and series, for they now had an unassailable 3-1 lead.
Kumudu Peddrick won the toss for Italy and chose to bat first. Given that the Austrians had fielded last in the preceding game this seemed like a good tactical move. It paid off to a degree with the Austrian bowlers gifting the Italian team 37 wides. That ought to have given the batting team a great deal of assistance but the home team failed to capitalise.
Not one of the Italians reached double figures. A string of ducks and single digit scores were only propped up by sundries and they finished 73 all out in the 18th over. For the bowlers, one who did manage to find her radar was Valentina Avdylaj whose 4-12 is the best bowling performance by an Austrian bowler and it took her to the top of all-time wicket takers for the team. She was well supported by Komati Reddy with 2-11.
Austria also seemed in a hurry with the bat, but with runs, not getting off the field. It was their most brisk effort to date, knocking over the total at the start of the thirteenth over. Leading the chase was Jo-An Stiglitz with a run-a-ball 14 and Andrea-Mae Zepeda with 10. Best with the ball, Sharon Withanage with 2-22. Austria now lead the series 3-1 with one final match to play.
Scores:
Italy 73 ( Valentina Avdylaj 4-12, Komati Reddy 2-11) 17.1 overs
Austria 74/4 (Jo-An Stiglitz 14, Sharon Withanage 2-22) 12.1 overs
Player of the Match: TBA