Fran and Freya impress for England Academy against Australia

Western Storm’s Fran Wilson and Freya Davies were part of an England Academy Women side that provided a good challenge to Australia in the tourists’ first outing ahead of the Ashes, which start next Tuesday.

The Australian side will have had a few nerves after being reduced to 49 for three in reply to England’s 184 for seven, but a 77-run partnership between Rachael Haynes and Beth Mooney saw the visitors home by six wickets.

The Academy lost Maia Bouchier for a duck in the third over but Bryony Smith and Fran Wilson (20) added 54 for the second wicket.

Smith ended with an excellent 68 from 84 balls before falling in the 25th over. Captain Georgia Elwiss then impressed with an unbeaten 48, putting on exactly 50 with Alice Davidson-Richards for the fifth wicket. However, Jess Jonassen picked up three for 19 from six overs and was the pick of the Australian bowlers.

England got off to the perfect start with the ball, removing the dangerous Elyse Villani and Meg Lanning in the first five overs. It was Freya Davies who accounted for the experienced Australian skipper, bowling her for two. Alyssa Healy hit a quick 35 before Davies claimed her second wicket of the day.

From there, though, the visitors settled into their stride.

Haynes and Ellyse Perry added 60 before the quick-scoring Mooney joined Haynes to see Australia over the line with seven overs to spare.

For the match scorecard click here