No more home international cricket in January, you say?
Such a pronouncement would be to ignore the comeback of Australia’s marvellous captain Meg Lanning, who returned just in time to provide a sound backbone to a successful chase against Pakistan in Brisbane.
Just as Lanning’s resumption as skipper was significant for the present of the Australian side with a Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa a matter of weeks away, so too was Phoebe Litchfield’s ODI debut a major pointer to the future.
Together, they ensured Australia ran down Pakistan’s 8-160 from a rain reduced 40 overs with more than 11 overs to spare.
Phoebe Litchfield and Meg Lanning underpinned Australia’s chase.Credit:Getty Images
At just 19, Litchfield has become a prolific scorer in domestic ranks, and after local product Beth Mooney dragged the moving ball onto her stumps early on at a soggy Allan Border Field, the left-hander offered surefooted defence and panache in attack – watched by Litchfield’s delighted Mum and Grandma in the stands.
“Meg was great, it’s the first time I’ve ever batted with her or played with her,” Litchfield said afterwards. “She knew exactly what to say at the right times and whenever I felt under pressure she’d bang a four or come down the other end and help me.
“So she was great to bat with and showed her class. She’s straight back at it – it doesn’t look like she’s missed any cricket.”
Phoebe Litchfield impressed on debut.Credit:Getty Images
In many ways, the Lanning (67 from 76 balls) and Litchfield partnership provided a reminder of the systemic advantages by which Australian women’s cricket remains so far ahead of the rest of the world.
Not only has Litchfield (78 not out off 92 deliveries) been schooled in the strongest domestic pathway available, Lanning’s sabbatical from cricket was allowed by the security and depth of a well-grooved professional framework.
By contrast, Pakistan have come a long way over the past couple of decades and are close to the front rank of international teams, but still operate on a much smaller scale relative to the resources and confidence of the Australians.
That much was underlined by a halting innings from the visitors after Lanning sent them in under overcast skies. After the loss of a couple of early wickets, showers reduced the match to 40 overs a side and limited Pakistan’s horizons against canny Australian swing and spin bowling.
Pakistani captain Bismah Maroof did her best to make a start in between the raindrops, only for Ash Gardner’s off-spinners to snaffle her wicket with a touch down the leg-side on the sweep – Mooney, keeping in place of the injured Alyssa Healy, took a superb catch.
At 4-84, a decidedly modest tally was likely, but it was swelled significantly by the rearguard of Nida Dar (59 from 88 balls), who oversaw a sequence of pesky lower order partnerships, even as the spinners Gardner, Jess Jonassen and Alana King shared figures of 4-59 from 19 overs between them.
There was some appreciable early movement available for the new ball pair of Diana Baig and Fatima Sana, and Mooney’s early loss was the perfect start for Pakistan.
It might have been better still had Lanning been caught when she sliced Fatima to Muneeba Ali at backward point when she had only made six, but the chance was badly spilled.
From there, Lanning and Litchfield were patient in absorbing a few more testing overs before accelerating against the change bowling and each passing 50 to the great appreciation of the Brisbane spectators.
To underline her temperament, Litchfield responded to Lanning’s exit by hammering her next three balls for four, four and six to hasten a swift end to the pursuit.
“At times I was like ‘Meg I really want to go here’ and she was like ‘nah, just keep going, we don’t need to do anything, we’re going fine’,” Litchfield said. “Then when Meg got out I was like ‘oh, I’m going for it here’, took a liking to one of their spinners, and it came off.”
Australia have never lost an ODI to Pakistan.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
