The first women’s Twenty20 International match took place in August 2004 between England and New Zealand. Fast forward to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2010 in Basseterre, where history was made as the first-ever super over was played in a match between England and Australia. Remarkably, this was the first super over in the tournament’s history, across both men’s and women’s editions.
England entered the contest as the reigning champions, having lifted the trophy in 2009. They chose to bat first, starting cautiously, without losing a wicket in the first three overs. However, in the fourth over, Clea Smith made the breakthrough by dismissing England’s captain Charlotte Edwards. Immediately after, Claire Taylor was run out, putting England in early trouble. A steady 44-run partnership between Sarah Taylor and Beth Morgan brought some stability to the innings, but the spin duo of Shelley Nitschke and Lisa Sthalekar struck, reducing England to 75 for 4.
Wickets continued to tumble, and England’s innings came to a halt at 104, with the final four wickets falling without a single run added. In response, Katherine Sciver-Brunt struck early, removing Elyse Villani in the second over, followed shortly by Nitschke, leaving Australia at 10 for 2. A crucial 34-run partnership between Alex Blackwell and Leah Poulton stabilized the chase, but Holly Colvin and Danielle Hazell broke through, reducing Australia to 45 for 4. A further collapse saw three wickets fall for just seven runs, leaving Australia at 63 for 7. Despite their struggles, Australia managed to reach 104 before being all out, tying the match and forcing a super over. Australia eventually emerged victorious in what was the first-ever super over in women’s T20I cricket.
The super over saw both sides score six runs, losing both wickets, and the winner was decided on boundary count, and it was Jess Duffin’s six off Holly Colvin in Australia’s initial run-chase, the only six of the match, secured the win for Australia.
Lisa Sthalekar was named Player of the Match for her game changing spell and bowling figures of 3 for 29, including the key wickets of Sarah Taylor, Jenny Gunn, and Danielle Hazell. Every Australian bowler contributed, with each taking a wicket. Leah Poulton led Australia’s batting effort with a gritty 23, while Sarah Taylor top-scored for England with a resilient 46.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first women’s T20I to end in a tie. On October 18, 2006, New Zealand and Australia played a tied T20I, but instead of a super over, the match was decided by a bowl-out. Australia won the bowl-out 2-1 and were awarded two points, the equivalent of a victory. This remains the only women’s T20I ever decided by a bowl-out.
