England women make a return to the field in squad game at Derby

Team Heyhoe Flint 244 for 5 (Elwiss 54, Brunt 68 not out, Glenn 52 not out) beat Team Brittin 250 all out (Wyatt 88, Davidson-Richards 48, Glenn 3 for 41)

England’s players returned to action in an intra-squad game at the Incora County Ground, Derby, today. With a series at this ground against South Africa due to take place next month, it was a welcome sight to see internationals getting back into the groove.

With a training squad of 24 split into two teams named after two England Legends Rachael Heyhoe Flint and Jan Brittin, it was always going to be interesting who would stand up and stand out.

The result way almost immaterial, as Team Heyhoe Flint – lead by Heather Knight – won by 5 wickets with 22 balls to spare.

With a relatively new coach in charge of England in Lisa Keightley, it was a good opportunity for several fringe players to stake a claim for a starting place in the upcoming internationals.

One of those who would have been desperate to show what she can do is Bryony Smith. Having made her ODI debut last June against West Indies, Smith would have been looking to prove she should add more caps to her collection. She was unfortunately run out without facing a ball by Danni Wyatt. Lauren Winfield, Smith’s opening partner was run out 11 balls later. Rustiness or not it was not a great start as Team Heyhoe Flint looked to chase down 251.

Having been put in, Team Brittin, looked comfortable, if watchful as they looked to rebuild from the early loss of Tammy Beaumont caught and bowled by Kathrine Brunt with the score on nine.

Danni Wyatt and Nat Sciver added 59 for the second wicket. The seam attack of Brunt, Freya Davies, Georgia Elwiss and Katie George bowled well but rarely threatened.

The introduction of Sarah Glenn caused a collapse of four wickets in 33 balls. Glenn threatened the stumps; Sciver her first of three wickets was bowled looking to make room to hit over point only to judge the flight wrong and departed on 18.

Anya Shrubsole, who is still recovering from injury spent some time in the middle umpiring. She was to give Glenn her next wicket as Fran Wilson on the back foot was trapped lbw.

Sophia Dunkley another player who can’t be too far from the thinking of the England management soon went lbw to Knight for 11. Team Brittin was looking in trouble. Someone needed to stay with Wyatt.

That job would fall to Alice Davidson-Richards who played sensibly. Davidson-Richards was judging her innings perfectly and when Wyatt (88) was caught by Lauren Bell to a George delivery she didn’t quite get on top of, it Davidson-Richards needed to be there at the end of the innings.

The Kent all-rounder was unlucky to be run out for 48 by Knight. Kirsty Gordon hit it straight back at Knight and Davidson-Richards was out of her ground.

Davidson-Richards followed up with some tight medium pace bowling, which will have put her in the minds of the selectors, especially if she can back up a solid start in the next few warm-up games.

251 should have been a relatively easy target to chase down. There was enough batting prowess in the Team Heyhoe Flint side to make it a formality. They did themselves no favours with the early run-outs.

Amy Jones was soon back in the pavilion when she gave Kate Cross a return catch to leave her side 8 for 3.

Knight and Elwiss started the recovery with a partnership of 68. A break in play because of rain did not help the cause. A new target of 244 from 45 overs looked achievable again. Knight fell for 31 to the reliable Davidson-Richards.

Elwiss and Brunt didn’t panic. Both would finish with fifties, Elwiss 54 before being bowled by Issy Wong. Brunt was unbeaten on 68 from 61 balls.

Wong struggled with no-balls but there is no doubting her potential. Having not played for the best part of a year it was understandable from a young player.

The batting to come has shown glimpses of talent with the bat at county level, Glenn was determined to show that she can bat against better opposition and she did just that.

Glenn’s 52 not out from 53 balls included nine fours. There was a certain maturity to her innings that would have benefited from Brunt at the other end and the pair added an unbeaten century stand for the sixth wicket.

It was a game that left many questions unanswered. With both teams far from match-ready, you can be sure they will be answered before the series with South Africa starts.