Australia have retained the Women’s Ashes after the team defeated England in the first of three ODIs against England in the multi-series format. It was a 27-run victory against England.
Beth Mooney mustered 73 runs and skipper Meg Lanning surpassed her 4,000 ODI runs. The hosts made a seemingly sub-par 205 for nine from the 50 overs at Manuka Oval.
Kate Cross and Katherine Brunt had taken three scalps each but England couldn’t recover from losing early wickets in their reply and were eventually settled for 178.
Left-arm spinner jess Jonassen had taken the final step to make Australia win and took a sharp catch dismissing Cross. Australia has a figure of 8-4 lead in the series and are again successful in keeping the title that they have since 2014-14 Ashes.
In the Test, England drew with Australia. The tourists had by then lost 9 wickets but had to score only 12 runs before the time was called off.
England captain Heather Knight told BT Sport: ‘The bowlers did an outstanding job. We came at them, bowled good areas and adapted well to the conditions. We’re still in with a chance of drawing the series and that’s got to be our focus now. We didn’t get a partnership together. The lower order fought really well. We lost wickets at regular moments and they bowled well, they kept the stumps in the game and that made it hard to score on that wicket.’
Match Highlights
Australian Women managed to score 205/9 in 50 overs after England Women elected to field. Lanning scored 28 off 51 deliveries including 4 fours. Star all-rounder Ellyse Perry recorded a golden duck. Beth Mooney was Australia’s top scorer (73). England had a poor start and were reduced to 103/6. Katherine Brunt and Kate Cross gave some hopes but failed to get them home.
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