LAUREN Griffiths enjoyed a good day behind the stumps for the England women’s team in Perth – but the former Chester Boughton Hall player was unable to prevent Australia from drawing first blood in yesterday’s first one-day international.
Wicket-keeper Griffiths, 23, of Guilden Sutton, took one catch and a stumping as England fell to defeat in a rain-affected contest at the WACA.
The Cheshire captain, who broke into the England side last year, was on 4no when rain forced the players off one last time with the tourists on 151-9 in reply to Australia’s 194-7.
With no more play possible, the result was decided by the Duckworth/Lewis method, which ruled that England lost by 33 runs.
Heavy showers had delayed the start of the match, which was reduced to 44 overs a side.
During the Australia innings, Griffiths took a catch off the bowling of Jenny Gunn and a stumping from a ball by Charlotte Edwards.
In England’s reply, a half-century from Edwards repaired a poor start – but she was part of a middle-order collapse that left number 11 Griffiths facing an impossible mission by the time she came to the crease.
The Chester ace faced three balls, hitting one boundary, before the rain came again in the 40th over.
She aims to reverse the result when the sides meet again at the same venue on tomorrow for a day-night match.
