Katie George took a hat-trick in just her second over representing the senior side as England continued their India tour preparations with another victory at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
The Hampshire left-armer was simply too good for the hosts’ top order, getting it through at pace to clean-bowl two and trap another in front to launch herself on to the international scene.
India A finished on 86/9 and England batted through their 20 overs, passing the target and eventually making 210/4, a batting innings full of encouraging performances.
Hat-trick hero!
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 20, 2018
1️⃣-2️⃣-3️⃣✅
England win in Mumbai and @KaTie_George46 enjoys a first senior game to remember. pic.twitter.com/BMjup57dy0
George’s early wickets formed part of a dramatic opening to the match. They came after one wicket had already fallen; Anya Shrubsole claiming a terrific catch at short midwicket but in the process falling awkwardly and leaving the field with an injured shoulder.
That wicket – which went to Nat Sciver – and the three for George were followed by one for Alice Davidson-Richardson, her first on tour, to leave India A struggling at 29/5 in the eighth.
A period of consolidation followed as Heather Knight rotated her bowlers and it was the returning George who was next to strike, her fourth of the day.
Danni Wyatt – who’s been stuck on 46 IT20 wickets since January 2014 – picked up two wickets and Dani Hazell one as India finished on 85/9 from their 20 overs.
With Bryony Smith unwell, Tammy Beaumont moved back up to open the innings alongside Wyatt and the pair set off very aggressively.
They found the boundary regularly and raced to 54/0 in the sixth before Beaumont fell for 31, from just 18 balls.
Wyatt continued after Beaumont’s dismissal, peppering the fence to progress to a 25-ball 46 before she was retired to give others an opportunity to get some time in the middle.
It was time that Sciver enjoyed. Having not got runs yesterday she cashed in, making an enterprising and entertaining 54 before also making way.
That left Amy Jones, Davidson-Richards and Jenny Gunn with an opportunity and they took the score to 210/4, displaying the middle-order aggression that Mark Robinson has been asking for.
After such a comprehensive bowling performance the result was never in doubt but the manor of England’s batting effort would have been heartening for the England coaching team.
They’ll hope for a similar performance on Friday in the IT20 tri-series opener against Australia.
England squad
Heather Knight (Berkshire, captain)
Tammy Beaumont (Kent)
Kate Cross (Lancashire)
Alice Davidson-Richards (Kent)
Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire)
Tash Farrant (Kent)
Katie George (Hampshire)
Jenny Gunn (Warwickshire)
Alex Hartley (Lancashire)
Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire)
Amy Jones (Warwickshire, wicketkeeper)
Anya Shrubsole (Somerset)
Bryony Smith (Surrey)
Nat Sciver (Surrey)
Fran Wilson (Middlesex)
Danni Wyatt (Sussex)
Schedule
22 March – 1st IT20: India v Australia, Mumbai
23 March – 2nd IT20: Australia v England, Mumbai
25 March – 3rd IT20: India v England, Mumbai
26 March – 4th IT20: India v Australia, Mumbai
28 March – 5th IT20: Australia v England, Mumbai
29 March – 6th IT20: India v England, Mumbai
31 March – Final: Mumbai
6 April – 1st ODI: India v England Nagpur
9 April – 2nd ODI: India v England, Nagpur
12 April – 3rd ODI: India v England, Nagpur