England can tie series but Aussies keep the big prize
KATHERINE BRUNT wishes England had managed to produced yesterday’s winning performance when the series was still alive. Brunt made key contributions with bat and ball in Canberra as England won the second Twenty20 by 40 runs against Australia, who had retained the Ashes with victory in the opening T20 of the multi-format series. England will level the series at 8-8 if they win tomorrow’s final match — a third T20. But that would not prevent Australia keeping the urn. ‘It’s a shame we brought one of our best games today and not the other day, but hopefully we can still level the series,’ Brunt said. ‘If it’s equal points, that’s a good finish and what we’re striving for now. We had one day to turn it around, so we’ve done really well to pick ourselves up. It was really bitter the other day, we’re still feeling it and it still hurts. But we want to level the series.’ Brunt hit 32 not out, following efforts of 40 from Natalie Sciver and 30 from Sarah Taylor, as England posted 152 for six. Brunt then took two for 10 with the ball, while Jenny Gunn took four wickets as Australia collapsed from 45 for 0 to 112 all out. TWENTY 20: England 152-6 (20 overs) Sciver 40; Schutt 2-16. Australia 112 (18 overs): Healy 24; Gunn 4-13, Brunt 2-10. England (2pts) won by 40 runs; Australia lead multi-format series 8-6.