England’s women kicked off their warm-up tour of Australia in style with a win in their match over ACT XI in Canberra.

In Lisa Keightley’s first match as head coach since her appointment last year, her England side posted 191-7 after 20 overs.

Dani Wyatt’s performance was especially impressive at the top of the order as the former Melbourne Renegades player scored 77 from 44 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Wyatt’s partnership with Natalie Sciver, who scored 49, meant England were able to build a strong grip on the match.

ACT XI lost early wickets but were able to post a respectable 144-9 as Claire Koski and Maddie Penna scored 60 for the fifth wicket.

England’s Anya Shrubsole was able to take three wickets whilst spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn kept their economy low at under 5 runs from their six overs.

Following the match, England captain Heather Knight praised her team for performing so impressively so early into the tour.

"It was a good test. Nat and Danni had a really good partnership up top – Danni continued her form of the last 18 months and Nat was really good, as well.

“We’re only three days off the plane so it was good to see that we’ve got the jet-lag out of the system and there’s quite a quick turnaround between games in the tri-series so that’s a good start.”

Despite falling for just six runs, Knight said she still believed Tammy Beaumont’s move to sixth in the order would be a good position in future for the Kent opener.

“Tammy moving to No.6 was something we looked at in Malaysia. We think she can be really good for us there – she can finish games and she can win games of cricket for us. It means she’ll have to adapt and we think she can do that, and we wanted Nat in a slightly different role at No.3.

“We’ll look to be flexible in our batting line-up but that’s the approach we’ve gone with to try and win a World Cup.”

England’s tour of Australia will continue when they face India’s women on Friday during their tri-series that will also include the Aussie side. Lisa Keightley’s side will be looking to settle in Down Under ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup competition that starts on 21 February.