Women's Twenty20 international, Derby: Australia 151-3 beat England 117-6 by 34 runs
Match scorecard

Charlotte Edwards (right) tries to find a way to stem the flow of runs

England's women were brought down to earth with a bump following their ICC World Twenty20 triumph when they lost by 34 runs to Australia at Derby.

In a one-off T20 international to launch the summer series, Karen Rolton hit 43 not out as Australia made 151-3.

England lost Sarah Taylor and Charlotte Edwards early and at the half-way point of their reply needed to score at almost 10 an over to reach the target.

In-form Claire Taylor hit a quickfire 31 but England came up short on 117-6.

The home side made two changes to the XI which lifted the ICC trophy following victory over New Zealand at Lord's as Caroline Atkins and Katherine Brunt made way for Ebony Rainford-Brent and Isa Guha.

Australia, meanwhile, were led by Jodie Fields for the first time after she took over as skipper from Rolton.

Fields chose to bat first after winning the toss and must have been delighted to see the normally reliable Laura Marsh collared early on by Leah Poulton, who struck four boundaries in the off-spinner's first two overs.

Poulton and Shelley Nitschke put on 55 before the former was bowled for 33 by Holly Colvin - and Nitschke followed for 32 three overs later when she was taken at mid-off from the bowling of Nicky Shaw.

Alex Blackwell was next to go, holing out off Jenny Gunn for 16, but Laura Ebsary hit Gunn for the game's only six in an unbeaten 24 as she and Rolton added 50 in the closing overs of the innings.

England immediately suffered a setback when Sarah Taylor was taken at mid-on for a single and the key wicket of captain Edwards followed when she lofted Sarah Andrews to deep mid-wicket and departed for 10.

Claire Taylor and Beth Morgan had shared a match-winning partnership in the ICC semi-final against Australia at The Oval, but there was to be no repeat this time.

Their third-wicket stand was worth 42 when Taylor, who had hit three successive fours off Kirsten Pike, holed out at long-off to become spinner Erin Osborne's first victim.

Morgan followed for 20, caught off Nitschke, and Osborne added the wicket of Lydia Greenway (19) as England fell further and further behind the asking rate.

Rainford-Brent played some good strokes in a bright and breezy 23 not out but the task of scoring 64 off the last five overs was never on as Australia wrapped up a deserved victory.

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