Charli Knott Shines as Australia A Clinch Dramatic Final-Day Victory Over England A

Captain Charli Knott delivered a match-winning performance to lead Australia A to a thrilling 25-run victory over England A on the final day of their four-day match at Cricket Central in Sydney. The visitors, who appeared on course for a dramatic win, lost five wickets for just 12 runs in a late collapse that handed the hosts a dramatic series-clinching win with just four balls remaining.

Knott, who scored a brilliant unbeaten 123 earlier in the day to set up Australia A’s second-innings declaration at 353 for 6, returned in the final over as light faded and the umpires barred the use of pace bowlers. With all nine fielders around the bat, she bowled Georgia Davis to seal the win and complete a sensational all-round performance.

England A had been set a challenging target of 289 in 63 overs and seemed well on track after a 91-run stand between Hollie Armitage (75) and Alice Capsey (55). Paige Scholfield, who had made a century in the first innings, then smashed 39 off 24 balls — including two sixes — to bring the equation down to just 37 runs at less than a run a ball.

However, the game turned dramatically when Scholfield was caught at mid-on off Tess Flintoff. The dismissal triggered a collapse, and when Bess Heath fell, England A’s hopes of a win faded. The ninth-wicket pair, Davis and Issy Wong, appeared to be playing for a draw, but a chaotic run-out of Wong on the last ball of the penultimate over set the stage for Knott’s heroics in the final over.

Earlier in the day, Knott led from the front with the bat, forging crucial partnerships — 113 with Rachel Trenaman (76) and 89 with Nicole Faltum (54*) — to help Australia A build a strong lead before declaring shortly after lunch.

England A had earlier posted a commanding 407 in their first innings, powered by centuries from Scholfield (164) and Capsey (108), before Australia A responded with 343, thanks to contributions from Trenaman, Faltum, and Knott. Issy Wong starred with the ball, claiming 5 for 63 in the first innings.

With this win, Australia A sealed the multi-format series, having earlier taken the T20s 1-0 and edged the one-dayers 2-1. The match will be remembered for its dramatic finale and Charli Knott’s outstanding all-round display.