Australia women's cricket team retained the Ashes with a three-run victory over England women after a close encounter in Hampshire on Sunday.
The Aussies’ women lead the series 8-6 on points and have successfully retained the Ashes. Now, even with a victory in the last ODI on Tuesday (July 18), England will take nothing home as the series will draw 8-8 on points.
Australia won the one-off Test which was of four points and then won one T20 and today, an ODI — both consisted of two points each — which took them to eight points.
Australia’s Ellyse Perry starred for the winning side in batting, scoring 91 off 124 balls with 10 boundaries while Alana King caused all the trouble for the Brits as she took three wickets for 44 and was awarded the Player of the Match award.
Earlier, England won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Despite early struggle as they were 27-2 in five overs, the Aussies managed to land on their foot. Perry and Beth Mooney developed a crucial 61-run partnership before the latter was removed for 33.
The Aussies kept on losing wickets before they were 158-5, that’s when Perry and Annabel Sutherland formed an 81-run partnership and took — with the help of Georgia Wareham’s blistering 37 off 14 — their team to get to a decent total of 282.
The Brits had a very good start and didn’t lose a wicket before scoring 66 in 11 overs.
Opener Tamsin Beaumont scored 60 off 62 with eight fours but it was the middle-order batter Nat Sciver-Brunt who stood out for her team as she remained not-out till the very end and scored 111 off 99.
Sciver-Brunt formed two crucial partnerships, a 57-run stand with Amy Jones and then a 76-run stand with Sarah Glenn but it wasn’t enough as England ended up losing just by three runs.
Lineups
England Women: Heather Knight ©, Sophia Dunkley, Tammy Beaumont, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Danielle Wyatt, Amy Jones, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Kate Cross, Lauren Bell
Australia Women: Alyssa Healy ©, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahila McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonasse, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Megan Schutt.