England’s hopes of regaining the Women’s Ashes are over after Australia raced to an unassailable 8-0 lead in a 57-run win in the first T20 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Heather Knight’s side can still win the series after winning the last two T20s and the one-off Test, but will not win the trophy, which has been in Australia’s hands since 2015, after winning it again.
England, 3-0 down in the previous ODI series and 6-0 down, were dismissed for 141 from 16 overs chasing a record 199, with Sophia Dunkley’s 59 off 30 balls in vain.
Dunkley’s dismissal, which came off a Tahlia McGrath delivery that went low in the 12th over with 89 runs required, was the decisive blow for the tourists, who had earlier seen openers Maya Bouchier and Danny Wyatt-Hodge duck. :
Australia were plundered at 198-7 after being included, with Beth Mooney (75 off 51) top-scoring to record her 24th T20 international 50 after being dropped in the 16th over by Amy Jones.
England were sloppy in the field. Lauren Bell bowled debutant Georgia Woll (21 off 11) for 13 before being caught leg-by-leg, while Charlie Dean and Nat Syver-Brunt held each other as the tourists also failed to dismiss Mooney for 23. as well as a loose ball :
Sophia Dunkley’s half-century went in vain for England as they went down 8-0 in the multi-format series.
Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers with 2-26 from her four overs with McGrath (26 off 9) standing in as Alyssa Healy (leg pain) and Grace Harris (14 off) as England each member of the offense is whipped for eight or more runs.
The series continues in Canberra on Thursday, before Saturday’s T20 final in Adelaide and then 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 John Lewis likely to be discussed.
Dunkley’s dazzling knock loses reason
England needed to match the national record of 199 runs in T20s they achieved against India in Mumbai in 2018, but got off to a terrible start as Bouchier hit his second ball to deep mid-on before Wyatt-Hodge ducked behind the first delivery; Megan Shute and Kim Garth, wicket takers respectively.
Dunkley and Sciver-Brunt (20 off 12) fought back to add 44 off 18 balls, all in boundaries, only for the latter to be bowled by Alana King (2-14) off the leg-spinner’s first ball which skidded through low.
Dunkley continued, though, powering his way to a 24-ball fourth T20I 50 off 36 deliveries at 48 with Knight before the skipper was bowled lbw by King shortly after drink.
When Dunkley departed, England folded, losing their last six wickets for 31 runs as Australian spinner Georgia Wareham claimed 3-25.
Phoebe Litchfield was dismissed by Heather Knight after scoring 25 off 20 balls.
Earlier, Mooney was supported with the bat mainly by Wall, McGrath and Phoebe Litchfield, the latter’s 25 off 20 balls, including a blistering six.
Wall made his debut following an injury to Healy, which could still rule the skipper out of the rest of the series.
With the Ashes in place, Australia can afford to be cautious with Healy, although they will be determined to win the series only after securing a draw in England in 2023.
Women’s Ashes – results and fixtures
All dates and times UK and Ireland
- First ODI. Saturday, January 11 – Australia won by four wickets
- Second ODI. 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 (08.40) – Canberra
- Third T20I. Saturday, January 25 (08.10) – Adelaide
- Testing. Thursday, January 30 – Sunday, February 2 (3.30 am) – Melbourne
