Ronalds, Bargna smash records as Germany beat Austria by 138 runs

Janet Ronalds became the first player to score a century for Germany in a T20 International, smashing an unbeaten 105 off 74 balls to post an imposing 191/0 against Austria. 15-year-old offspinner Emma Bargna then took 5/9 to sweep aside the hosts for 53, as Germany beat Austria by 138 runs.

Alongside opening batter and vice-captain Christina Gough, Ronalds converted a steady start into a flurry of boundaries to close the innings.

A near chanceless performance, Ronalds hit 16 fours as she brought up her century in 72 balls. In doing so, becoming the first German to score a T20 international hundred for either the women’s or men’s side.

As well as Germany’s first T20I century, it was the first century in a T20I since Lizelle Lee’s 101 for South Africa against Thailand at the Women’s T20 World Cup in February.

Gough was able to back-up her career best of 72, made in the first match, with an unbeaten 66 to partner Ronalds effort.

Between Ronalds’ strength through midwicket, and Gough’s hitting down the ground and behind square on the legside, Austria’s bowlers were left scratching their heads, with no bowler conceding less than a run-per-ball.

The total of 191/0 became Germany’s highest in WT20Is, surpassing the total of 172/1 set against Oman in February. The unbeaten 191-run partnership was also the fourth highest in WT20 international history as well as the highest total in WT20 internationals without losing a wicket.

Any hopes Austria had of pulling off a remarkable chase were immediately dashed when Germany’s Emma Bargna took two wickets in the first over before a run had been scored by the Austrian side.

Austrian captain Andrea Mae Zepeda perished in the second over for four runs to the bowling of Suzanne MacAnanama-Brereton. After four overs, Austria had fallen to 13/5, with three wickets to Bargna and two to MacAnanama-Brereton.

15-year old Bargna would go on to take 5/9 in 4 overs. She became the first German bowler to take a five-wicket haul in T20Is for either the men’s or women’s side.

The lower-middle order provided useful runs, led by 17 from Jo Antionette Stiglitz, but two wickets for Antonia Meyenborg and one for Asmita Kohli ended Austria’s innings at 53 all out in 13 overs, giving Germany a 138-run win.

The 138-run victory takes Germany to a 2-0 lead in the series with three matches still to play.