Scorpions shine on international scene

Since completing their commitments for the Scorpions in the Women’s National Cricket League and then the Adelaide Strikers in the inaugural Rebel Women’s Big Bash League, Megan Schutt, Sarah Coyte, Sophie Devine and Sarah Taylor have all turned out for their respective countries.

Opening bowler Megan Schutt and all-rounder Sarah Coyte remained in Australia to contest the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars T20 and ODI series’ against India. The tour was a mixed bag for the Australians, the hosts losing the T20 series before fighting back to claim the ODI component 2-1. 

The duo have now crossed the Tasman to compete in the historic Rose Bowl Series in New Zealand which will pit them against Sophie Devine’s White Ferns in three 50-over matches, followed by a three-match T20 series.

After a nail-biter on Sunday in which Devine’s White Ferns struck the first blow, Australia recorded an eight-wicket win in game two, played today at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval; highlights including two wickets in as many balls to Schutt and a team high 67 from Devine.

The most impressive of the lot however, has to be England’s Sarah Taylor. In yet another seesawing international series, England won both the one-day international and T20 series 2-1. 

Taylor's third consecutive half-century led England to a four-wicket victory over South Africa in the deciding Twenty20 international; the wicketkeeper-batter striking 10 fours in her 60 runs from 40 balls, passing 2,000 T20I runs in the process.

England now return home before jetting off to next month's ICC World Twenty20, where they will be joined by Australia and New Zealand.