England Women’s cricket team has secured consecutive victories in T20 Internationals, ensuring that the Women’s Ashes series remains in contention. With the support of a lively crowd of 21,610 at Lord’s, England successfully chased down a rain-adjusted target of 119 within 14 overs, with four balls to spare.
Consequently, England has narrowed Australia’s lead in the Women’s Ashes to 6-4 points. Initially, Australia held a 6-0 advantage after winning the Test match and the first T20I.
However, they only need win one of the three ODI matches remaining to retain the Ashes. Australia had posted 7-155 in the third and final T20 at Lord’s on Saturday. Due to rain interrupting the game during the innings interval, the target was subsequently adjusted. Danni Whyatt played a crucial role in England’s pursuit by scoring 26 runs off just 15 balls.
When the score reached 39, Whyatt and Sophia Dunkley were both removed in quick succession.
Jess Jonasson
However, Jess Jonasson, struggling with the wet ball, went for 14 in the sixth over and at 2-57 the home side was halfway to the target after six overs. Darcie Brown (18-1 off three overs) pegged them back with a five-run over but teenager Alice Capsey (46 off 22) and veteran Nat Sciver-Brunt (25 off 24) clubbed 68 in 44 balls for the third-wicket.
Superb ground-fielding kept Australia in it but with eight balls left England needed only two to win. Testing nerves, Georgia Wareham (1-10 off two) and Jonasson dismissed Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight in three run-less balls.
But Dani Gibson reverse-swept her first ball for four to inflict Australia’s first T20 series defeat since 2017. In the first women’s Ashes T20 match held at the ground, Australia found it challenging to build momentum while batting. However, they managed to score 37 runs in the last three overs, allowing them to post a defendable yet underwhelming total.
The Dropped Catches
England struggled to take their chances, dropping five catches, though they were not overly expensive. In an eventful 10-ball innings, skipper Alyssa Healy began by hitting the first two balls to the boundary, but then the fielders dropped her, and she eventually got out lbw for 16. After Tahlia McGrath (10 off 13) scooped a mis-hit to mid-off, Beth Mooney (32 off 27) and Ash Gardner (32 off 25) attempted to inject acceleration.
While trying to ramp Sciver-Brunt, Mooney played-on, and Amy Jones, standing up to the stumps, caught Gardner off a bouncer after Gardner charged the same bowler.
Ellyse Perry (34 off 25) and Grace Harris (25 off 15) managed to hit and scramble enough in a late flurry to make Australia competitive.