Sophia Dunkley blasted the joint-second fastest half-century for England women in a T20I today (January 20), in the opening Ashes T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Dunkley's lone hand
While Dunkley's effort was ultimately in a losing cause as England lost the match by 57 runs, it did mark a startling return to form for the top-order batter, and gave England hope of pulling off a record chase.
Dunkley has been in and out of England's T20I side over the last year, and last scored a half-century in 2023. Picked to bat at three at the SCG, she came to the crease during the first over of England's innings after Maia Bouchier holed out to the second ball she faced. England were quickly two down, when Danni Wyatt-Hodge fell for a golden duck off the first ball of the second over.
Joined by Nat Sciver-Brunt at the crease, Dunkley hit consecutive sixes off the fifth and sixth balls she faced, taking 22 runs off Kim Garth's second over. She followed-up with another six in the final over of the powerplay, before picking up back-to-back fours off the last two balls of the eighth to take her to 48 off 22 balls. She reached her half-century two balls later, taking a single off a slower-ball from Annabel Sutherland.
