Rampant Australia retain the Ashes with crushing victory
By Dermott Blakeley in Sydney Australia Women (134-4) bt England Women (132) by 6 wkts
England’s quest to add the Women’s Ashes trophy to their World Cup is over after Australia thrashed them in the opening T20 in Sydney. Needing to win all three of the remaining fixtures in the multi-format series, England recovered from a four-wicket collapse inside the first five overs to post 132 for nine.
Australia opener Beth Mooney ended any England hopes with an unbeaten 86 in 56 balls to ensure the Ashes were retained. It was a deflating performance from Heather Knight’s team after putting in the hard yards to save the standalone Test last Sunday.
They returned to North Sydney Oval confident of drawing on the same resilience that secured the World Cup with a run of eight straight wins. That sentiment evaporated inside 4½ overs, England’s top order were routed as they stumbled to 16 for four. With hopes all but dashed, Dani Wyatt enjoyed her first chance on tour with a half-century – her first in internationals. Yet nothing would stop Mooney in the chase as she guided the hosts home with 25 balls to spare.
Knight was the first to go in England’s innings, caught behind off Jess Jonassen off the second ball of the night. In bizarre scenes, the captain was nearly off the field before being brought back, with it unclear if she had been bowled or caught – and Alyssa Healy’s gloves breaking the bails confused matters further.
Finally, replays showed the dismissal to be fair, and she was on her way. When No3 Sarah Taylor was judged leg before to the seventh ball of the contest, England were in strife. More again as Tammy Beaumont slashed wildly at Ellyse Perry, her under-edge taken expertly by Healy. The same bowler/keeper combination was at it again next ball, Katherine Brunt’s elevation up the order lasting just one delivery.
Perry did not complete the hattrick, as Wyatt immediately made the most of what was left of the power play by twice striking Jonassen over her head for four. She continued to counter-attack as Nat Sciver played herself in before get-
ting into the act with a pair of innovative sweeps as the stand passed 50. But 14 runs later, with England now finding the rope with much greater regularity, she was trapped leg before when trying to slap Delissa Kimmince across the line.
Wyatt lasted only three more overs, run out in an effort to keep the board ticking. Fran Wilson was up for that task, batting well with the bowlers for 23 not out to give Australia a total that often takes some getting in women’s T20.
Mooney was having none of that though, smashing 14 off Brunt’s first over to set the tone for the chase. England’s tour concludes with two dead rubbers as far as the Ashes are concerned, but the T20 series is still up for grabs. “That’s a big carrot for us,” Knight said. “To make it eight-eight [on points] would be a great effort. The girls are really hurting but we want to turn it around quickly and finish the tour on a high.”
Coach Mark Robinson echoed the subdued sentiment but praised Mooney for her match-winning hand. “She played an exceptional innings,” he said. “Sometimes you need to take your hat off to the opposition.” The final two T20s will be played in Canberra tomorrow and Tuesday.