India feel the force of Danni Wyatt

HAVING hailed her match-winning display against India as “the most mature innings” she has produced for her country, there is little danger that England’s Danni Wyatt has developed the seven-year itch.

In truth, the 27-year-old opener, who began her international
career back in 2012, is in a fine position to sit back and take stock of her
growth into one of the most fearsome weapons in England’s arsenal.

She was at her best as she helped England clinch an unassailable 2-0 series lead in the second of three T20 clashes with India in Guwahati on Thursday, Wyatt inspiring them with a fine unbeaten 64.

“It was difficult to bat in the middle but probably this is
the most mature innings I have played for England,” said the 2017 World Cup
winner.

“Smriti Mandhana brought mid-off and mid-on up in the final
over, so I wanted to slog it over but I knew she will bowl it halfway down the
track.

“It’s great to win the series. It says a lot about us given
the result in the ODI series and we’re really proud of how we’ve bounced back.

“It hasn’t been easy at all but we’ve shown a lot of
character and resilience. The bowlers were brilliant – Katherine Brunt again
stood up, and Laura Marsh and Linsey Smith were great again.

“I’m proud to have taken the team to the win. I’ve been challenged
to finish more games off for England, so it’s a great feeling to do that. It’s
right up there next to my innings in Mumbai.

“We need to continue putting in performances like this,
starting with the final T20 on Saturday and then the Sri Lanka series.”

However, at times, Wyatt has struggled to translate her
proficiency from T20 to the longer form of limited-overs cricket, only
recording her first ODI half-century in her 63rd appearance in the format in
Mumbai late last month in the last of three clashes with India.

Before that, she was dropped for the second ODI for Lauren
Winfield and with the Women’s Ashes on the horizon, England’s management team
are not afraid to use tough love to get her firing on all cylinders.

“Danni’s been slightly upsetting, the way she’s been getting
out,” said captain Heather Knight in the wake of a seven-wicket loss in the
second ODI.

“She’s been outstanding in T20 cricket. She’s become one of
the best T20 cricketers in the world but she hasn’t quite managed to transfer that
into ODIs yet.

“She’s had a lot of opportunities and she has a lot of
talent. We set the challenge for her to try to be the best finisher in the
world in ODI cricket.”

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