Haynes leads the way as Australia turn Ashes screw
AUSTRALIA captain Rachael Haynes hit 89 off 56 balls to propel her side to 296 for six after being unexpectedly asked to bat first in the second Women’s Ashes ODI against England.
After half-centuries from the top three, Haynes dominated the final 10 overs, the hosts piling on 96 runs as thunder threatened.
Rain did arrive in the interval and a second shower shaved only four overs from what England would have to bat in their run chase to square the series.
Haynes defied her cautious reputation by lifting England’s World Cup attack for three legside sixes, adding nine boundaries.
England captain Heather Knight had gambled in putting Australia in on a flat pitch, given that rain tends to favour teams batting second but her bowlers did not deliver.
Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt went for 112 wicketless runs, the latter conceding 55 in eight overs. Brunt also dropped Ellyse Perry on 41, who pushed on to 67.
The 47th over was defining — Tammy Beaumont spilled a chance at deep midwicket off Haynes, parrying it to the rope. Haynes with six over long-on, then cut four more. The six balls cost Brunt and England 21 runs.
Earlier, Australia’s top three all passed fifty. Alyssa Healy clipped and pulled her way to 56 off 55 balls until Lancashire left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, the 18year-old on Ashes debut, rushed one through her cut shot.
Fellow opener Nicole Bolton took longer to get going but found the boundary seven times on her way to 66, before being bowled by England’s other left-arm spinner, Alex Hartley.
Jenny Gunn cleaned up at the end to finish with four for 55, helped by Sarah Taylor’s stumping to remove Perry (67) and Knight’s catch at backward point dismiss Elyse Villani for just one.
“I felt a lot more relaxed than I did in the first game,” said Haynes afterwards.
“Today I was focused on getting my placement right.”