‘She loves these conditions’ – Alyssa Healy lauds Kim Garth after match-winning show against India

Alyssa Healy. (Photo Source: Warren Little/Getty Images)

Australia skipper Alyssa Healy lavished praise on fellow teammate Kim Garth following her match-winning performance in the second T20I against India at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on January 7. Garth finished with impressive figures of 2/27 and helped Australia to win the game by six wickets to level the series 1-1. The right-arm bowler went on to win the Player of the Match award.

Garth, who was a late replacement for Gujarat Giants in the inaugural Women’s Premier League, impressed with a five-for in Navi Mumbai. As the 27-year-old, who was included in Australia‘s lineup as a replacement for Darcie Brown once again made a quick impact at the same stadium, Healy stated that the seamer loves these conditions.

“I’ve seen Kim Garth take a five-fa in the WPL here and she loves these conditions. We just made that change on gut feel and we’ll have to see what the line-up looks like in a couple of days’ time,” Healy told broadcasters after the game.

I learned a lot in the WPL: Kim Garth

While speaking about her performance in the second T20I against the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side, Kim Garth revealed her learnings from the WPL. The right-arm seamer also spoke about her understanding of the Indian conditions claiming it helped her to a very great extent.

“Every time I get an opportunity to get out there and play for Australia, it’s very special. To take a few wickets was really pleasing but most importantly to equal the series going into the last game was very pleasing for us. I learned a lot in the WPL, we played out here at DY a fair bit so I tried to learn as best as I could from those conditions,” Garth said.

“It’s not always super nice to bowl out here with the small outfield, and fast outfield as well and flat wickets, but I took away from that that I just need to try and keep the stumps in play as much as possible but also having a plan B and plan C when things don’t go your way. So, I’ve tried as best to learn from those experiences and to take it into this tour whenever I do get opportunities.

“(They were) bowler-friendly conditions tonight … it’s no secret I like to pitch the ball up and stand the seam up and let the ball do the talking and lucky for me I got a bit of movement, both back in off the seam and with the swing. I’m just trying to keep the stumps in play and be nice and attacking and set attacking fields and lucky for me it came off tonight,” the 27-year-old added.