| England 285-9 (50 overs): Sciver-Brunt 129 (149); Jonassen 3-30 |
| Australia 199 (35.3 overs): Perry 53 (58); Cross 3-48 |
| England gained by 69 runs (DLS); Ashes series drawn 8-8 |
| Scorecard. |
England thrashed Australia in Taunton to attract the Women’s Ashes series and inflict a first bilateral one-day worldwide series defeat on the vacationers since 2013.
The 69-run win means the points-based and multi-format Ashes series is drawn 8-8, however holders Australia retain the Ashes.
World champions Australia had been set a revised goal of 269 in 44 overs after rain interrupted their pursuit of England’s 285-9, which was arrange by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s second successive century.
But England patiently chipped away with common wickets whereas Australia struggled for partnerships, ultimately slipping from 190-6 to 199 all out.
Australia misplaced each openers early and slipped to 15-2 earlier than all-rounder Ellyse Perry blunted England’s assault with stands of 53 and 45 with Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney respectively.
But Perry’s 53 was the only half-century in the innings, as Ash Gardner’s eye-catching 41 from 24 balls supplied a late spark to the chase earlier than she was brilliantly run out by Danni Wyatt from the boundary.
Kate Cross starred with 3-48 whereas Lauren Bell and spinner Charlie Dean took two wickets apiece as Australia struggled to regain any rhythm after the rain got here 19.2 overs into their innings.
Earlier, Sciver-Brunt laid the foundations for England’s historic victory with one other sensational innings that got here after England slipped to 12-2, including a important stand of 147 with skipper Heather Knight, who made 67.
Wyatt then added an explosive 43 from 25 balls to assist England set their highest-ever ODI complete in opposition to Australia on dwelling soil and what would have been the second-highest profitable run-chase of all time.
The outcome concludes essentially the most closely-fought Ashes since 2017, when it was final drawn, however England’s decade-long wait to carry the urn continues regardless of in the end profitable extra video games in the series, reflecting the importance of the 4 factors from Australia’s Test victory in June.
Sciver-Brunt lastly will get her profitable second
Sciver-Brunt has been ready a whereas for her century in a profitable trigger, and selected the sweetest second for it in entrance of a packed Taunton crowd.
It was her fourth ODI century in 5 innings in opposition to the world champions, and to have a aspect of such calibre on the lookout for solutions in opposition to her speaks volumes of her class.
She was given a life on 54 when McGrath dropped a likelihood in her follow-through, and punished them for it.
The knock was a tad slower than her 99-ball 111* at Southampton two days beforehand, however was distinctive beneath completely different circumstances – batting first and having watched the openers depart with lower than 15 runs on the board.
Australia’s spinners as soon as once more utilized the strain excellently in the center overs, however Sciver-Brunt and Knight held agency, utilizing all their expertise to tick over the singles and punish something free.
That platform was essential, permitting England to unleash the dynamic Wyatt in opposition to a drained Australia assault on the finish of an intense tour.
It could not have been sufficient to win England the Ashes however in a series win, Sciver-Brunt firmly established herself as one of many world’s biggest and her price because the immovable gem of England’s center order.
More to observe.
