Australia retain women’s Ashes as England are beaten again in first T20 international at Sydney Cricket Ground | Cricket news
England’s hopes of winning the Women’s Ashes again are over after holders Australia opened up an elusive 8-0 lead with a 57-run victory in the first T20 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Heather Knight’s side can still clinch the series by winning the last two T20s and the one-off Test, but they will not win the trophy that has been in Australia’s hands since 2015 after being overpowered again.
England, who were beaten 3-0 in the previous ODI series to go down 6-0 on points, were dismissed for 141 in 16 overs in pursuit of a record 199, with Sophia Dunkley’s 59 off 30 balls in vain.
Dunkley’s dismissal – hit by a Tahlia McGrath delivery that kept low in the 12th over with 89 runs needed – was the decisive blow for the tourists, who had earlier seen openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge fall for ducks.
Australia made 198-7 after being bowled in, with Beth Mooney (75 off 51) top scoring to register her 24th international T20 50 after being dropped by Amy Jones in the 16th over.
England were sloppy in the field – Lauren Bell targeted debutant Georgia Voll (21 off 11) in the 13th over before being caught lbw , while Charlie Dean and Nat Sciver-Brunt left the catch for each other as the tourists also failed to dismiss Mooney on 23 .- as well as loose with the ball.
Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-26 from her four overs as she finished with enterprising performances from McGrath (26 off 9) – who captained in place of Alyssa Healy (foot infection) – and Grace Harris (14 off 8) , with every other member of England’s attack whipping for eight runs or more.
The series resumes in Canberra on Thursday, before the final T20 in Adelaide on Saturday, followed by a pink-ball Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from January 30.
After that, it will be decision time for England, with the futures of captain Heather Knight and head coach Jon Lewis likely to be up for debate.
Dunkley’s great typing loses reason
England needed to equal the national T20 run record of 199 they achieved against India in Mumbai 2018 but suffered a terrible start as Bouchier hit her second ball to deep midwicket, before removing Wyatt-Hodge behind the first delivery – Megan Schutt and Kim Garth wicket-takers respectively.
Dunkley and Sciver-Brunt (20 off 12) hit back, adding 44 off 18 balls, all in boundaries, only for the latter to be bowled by Alana King (2-14) off the first ball of a leg-spinner, which went low.
Dunkley continued though, reaching a 24-ball fourth T20I 50 in a stand of 48 off 36 deliveries with Knight before the captain was bowled lbw by King just after drinks.
With Dunkley gone, England folded, losing their last six wickets for 31 runs as Australian all-rounder Georgia Wareham took 3-25.
Earlier, Mooney was supported with the bat mainly by Voll, McGrath and Phoebe Litchfield, with 25 off 20 balls from the latter, including an outrageous change for a six.
Voll made his debut following Healy’s injury, which could rule the captain out of the rest of the series.
With the Ashes on hold, Australia can afford to be cautious with Healy, although they will be determined to win the series outright after only securing a draw in England 2023.
Women’s Ashes – results and fixtures
All dates and times UK and Ireland
- First ODI: Saturday January 11 – Australia won by four wickets
- Other ODIs: Monday January 13 – Australia won by 21 runs
- Third ODI: Thursday, January 16 – Australia won by 86 runs
- First T20I: Monday January 20 – Australia won by 57 runs
- Second T20I: Thursday, January 23 (8.40am) – Canberra
- Third T20I: Saturday, January 25 (8.10am) – Adelaide
- Test: Thursday 30 January – Sunday 2 February (3.30am) – Melbourne
