Australia retain Women’s Ashes as England beaten by three runs in second ODI despite stunning Nat Sciver-Brunt hundred
Despite a heroic, unbeaten hundred from Nat Sciver-Brunt, Australia retained the Women’s Ashes with a thrilling three-run win over England in the second one-day international at The Ageas Bowl.
England needed a fourth-straight white-ball victory in order to take things to a decider on Tuesday, but Australia’s victory sees them lead 8-6 on points and even if the hosts were to triumph in the final ODI in Taunton to tie the series , Australia retain the Ashes as current holders.
Set another record chase of 283 to win, Sciver-Brunt struck a magnificent 111 not out off 99 balls but could not quite see England over the line with 15 needed from the final over.
Nat Sciver-Brunt was almost caught in the closing stages by Georgia Wareham
Sciver-Brunt, who was dropped on 97 in the penultimate over the ball before bringing up her tone, struck Jess Jonassen’s third ball for four to reduce the equation to nine needed from three. That became five from one after a pair of quickly-scampered twos, but Sciver-Brunt was unable to find the boundary from the final ball.
Tammy Beaumont also struck an impressive 60 at the top of the order for the hosts before being bowled by a beauty from Alana King (3-44), one of three wickets for the leg-spinner recalled to the Australian side for the game. Ashleigh Gardner also pitched in with 3-54.
Wareham had earlier hit 26 runs off the final over of Australia’s innings from Lauren Bell
England will look back ruefully on the final over of Australia’s innings in particular, with Georgia Wareham smashing Lauren Bell for 26, including three sixes and two fours, to propel them up to what proved a match-winning score.
Heather Knight’s side had otherwise done reasonably well to restrict Australia after winning the toss, despite two costly drops of Ellyse Perry who went on to score 91.
England’s dropped several catches as Australia set a testing total of 282-7
Perry was put down on 50 by Sarah Glenn, off her own bowling, and on 63 by Kate Cross at mid-off. Sophie Ecclestone also put down Gardner (33) when on just four as errors were again prominent in England’s fielding display.
Although expensive late on, Bell (3-85) had given the hosts the perfect start, dismissing both Australia openers cheaply, Phoebe Litchfield (4) pinned lbw and captain Alyssa Healy (13) caught at short third.
Bell gave England a flying start as she trapped Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield leg before wicket
Perry and Beth Mooney (33) rebuilt with a 61-run partnership, before the latter fell to Ecclestone, top-edging an attempted sweep to short fine leg.
Tahlia McGrath (5) came and went quickly – caught behind off Glenn (1-56) before Perry again enjoyed sizable stands with Gardner and Annabel Sutherland (50), who struck a maiden ODI fifty.
Ecclestone picked up Perry nine short of her hundred and added Sutherland later in the same over as England looked to be finishing the stronger until Wareham’s crucial late cameo.
In reply, the scratchy Sophia Dunkley (13) shared in a 66-run opening partnership that Beaumont dominated and was eventually bowled by Wareham when looking to paddle one fine.
Spin was to be a constant threat throughout England’s chase, with the captain Knight (12) next out lbw to King, albeit hugely aggravated by the decision as she believed she laid some bat on it that went undetected by the umpire and UltraEdge on review.
Tammy Beaumont departs after being bowled by Alana King to leave England three down
Beaumont, soon after bringing up an 18th ODI fifty, was bowled by a beauty from King that pitched in line, turned away and kissed the top of her off stump, while Alice Capsey (2) somewhat gave her wicket away to the leg-spinner , holing out to deep mid-wicket.
It was then over to Gardner, who accounted for Danni Wyatt (8) and then Amy Jones (37) and Ecclestone (1) in the same over after a 57-run stand between Sciver-Brunt and the England wicketkeeper.
England’s Amy Jones and Sophie Ecclestone departed in quick succession at the hands of Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner
With the hosts reduced to 203-7, with 80 still required from the final 11.2 overs, it looked like England’s chance was gone, only for Sciver-Brunt’s sensational effort and a hugely-valuable, unbeaten 22 from Glenn to take them close.
But they ultimately left themselves a little too much to do, and England’s Ashes hopes were dashed by an agonizing three-run defeat.
Women’s Ashes schedule (all games live on Sky Sports)
Watch the second ODI of the multi-format Women’s Ashes between England and Australia on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.30am, ahead of the first ball at 11am. Stream this summer’s men’s and women’s Ashes series on NOW
