Mooney magic helps Australia seal the Ashes
AUSTRALIA has defended the women’s Ashes, with Beth Mooney hitting an unbeaten 86 in a six-wicket victory over England in the opening Twenty20 match in Sydney.
The hosts needed to win just one of three T20s remaining in the multi-format series, and they chased down England’s 132 with 4.1 overs to spare last night at North Sydney Oval.
After winning the toss and fielding, Australia was dominant from the outset when spinner Jess Jonassen dismissed England opener Heather Knight with the second ball.
The second wicket fell the next over when fast bowler Megan Schutt trapped Sarah Taylor lbw.
Australia had its third when Healy took a spectacular catch to remove Tammy Beaumont, diving low to her right to gather a bottom edge off Ellyse Perry’s bowling.
Perry was on a hat-trick when Katherine Brunt was caught behind off the next ball, leaving England at 4-16.
Perry missed the hat-trick opportunity by bowling a wide the next delivery. Danielle Wyatt (50) and Natalie Sciver (26) led an English recovery with a 64-run partnership including seven boundaries. They were helped by two dropped catches. Schutt tamed England’s lower order with three late wickets.
Opening batter Mooney promptly sought to take the game away from England by smashing a four and six over deep backward square leg off Brunt in the first over.
Her opening partner Healy struggled to get going before being caught in the outfield for five. But England’s resistance was on increasingly shaky ground when left-hander Mooney brought up her halfcentury off 34 balls.
Mooney finished with 11 fours and two sixes in a sublime 55-ball innings.