England women fall just short in Twenty20 final

No 3 Jess Cameron top-scored with 45 to help Australia pile up 142-4 after being put in at the Premadasa Stadium.

England’s batters never quite managed the necessary impetus to get over the line, but would not give up and came mighty close in the end to regaining the title they won at Lord’s in 2009.

Charlotte Edwards (28) and Sarah Taylor (19) got started, but could not sustain their innings as the inaugural winners of this competition batted deep to finish on 138-9.

There was enough pace in the pitch to make the seamers vulnerable, if slightly off target, and Australia openers Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning cashed in against Katherine Brunt.

They were therefore off to a flying start, racking up 47 without loss in powerplay as both Healy and Lanning found boundaries easy to come by, especially in Brunt’s second over, which cost 16.

Holly Colvin gave England a much-needed breakthrough, in her first over, when Lanning chipped a caught-and-bowled back to the slow left-armer to end an opening stand of 51. At 10 overs, the score was 68-1, but immediately, Healy was bowled trying to pull Danni Hazell.

Cameron then dominated a second half-century stand with Lisa Sthalekar, and had just taken 17, including a six over midwicket, from one Anya Shrubsole over when Colvin again broke the partnership.

It seemed Australia might have a winning total, albeit on a good batting surface – and so it proved, just.

Jenny Gunn made a battling 19 late on, and Australia had to hold their nerve to deny England’s final flourish as slow left-armer Jess Jonassen (3-25) took the honours with the ball.