England’s hopes of reclaiming the Women’s Ashes are over after Australia took an unassailable 8-0 lead with a 57-run win in the first T20 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Heather Knight’s side can still draw the series with wins in the last two T20s and the one-off Test, but they will miss out on winning the trophy that Australia have dominated since 2015 after being outclassed again.
England, who had been swept 3-0 in the previous ODI series and were 6-0 down, were dismissed for 141 in 16 overs chasing a record 199, with Sophia Dunkley not making 59 off 30 balls. .
Dunkley’s dismissal was the deciding blow as Tahlia McGrath’s delivery resulted in 89 runs in the 12th over. It was a crushing blow for the tourists who had previously seen openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge fall for ducks.
Australia plundered 198-7 after being inserted, with Beth Mooney (75 off 51) top-scoring, registering her 24th T20 international fifty after being dropped on 16 by Amy Jones.
England were sloppy on the field. Lauren Bell was pinned lbw after striking debutant Georgia Voll (11 off 21) on the 13th, while Charlie Dean and Nat Sciver-Brunt left catches for each other as the tourists also failed to dismiss Mooney on the 23rd. It comes loose with the ball.
Sophia Dunkley’s half-century was in vain as England lost the multi-format series 8-0.
Sophie Ecclestone finished off an enterprising cameo from McGrath (9 off 26), who stood in for Alyssa Healy (foot pain), and Grace Harris (14 off), with the bowlers scoring 2-26 from 4 overs. It was a choice. 8), Every other member of England’s attacking line was whipped by more than 8 points.
The series continues in Canberra on Thursday, followed by the final T20 in Adelaide on Saturday and a pink-ball Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 30.
Decision time will then come for England and the futures of captain Heather Knight and manager John Lewis are likely to be discussed.
Dunkley’s brilliant knock causes defeat.
England needed to equal the domestic record T20 chase of 199 runs they achieved against India in Mumbai in 2018, but suffered a terrible start when Bouchier swung his second ball to deep midwicket and Wyatt-Hodge was caught behind by the first delivery. . Megan Schutt and Kim Garth wicket collectors.
Dunkley and Sciver-Brunt (20 off 12) hit back and added 44 off 18 balls, all boundaries, but the latter slipped low off the leg-spinner’s first ball, bowled by Alana King (2-14) .
But Dunkley went on to reach his fourth T20I fifty, 24 balls in his stand for 48 off 36 deliveries with Knight, and the captain was pinned lbw by King shortly after a drink.
When Dunkley left, England folded, losing their last six wickets for 31 runs with Australian spinner Georgia Wareham claiming 3-25.
Phoebe Litchfield scored 25 runs off 20 balls before being dismissed by Heather Knight.
Earlier, Mooney was mainly supported with the bat by Voll, McGrath and Phoebe Litchfield, the latter hitting 25 from 20 balls, including six outrageous switch hits.
Voll made his debut after Healy’s injury, but this could rule the skipper out for the rest of the series.
With the Ashes retained, Australia can afford to be cautious with Healy, but will be determined to win the series outright after securing a draw in England in 2023.
Ashes Women – Results and Schedule
All dates and times UK and Ireland
- First ODI: Saturday, January 11 – Australia wins by 4 wickets
- Second ODI: Monday, January 13 – Australia wins by 21 points
- Third ODI: Thursday, January 16 – Australia wins by 86 points
- First T20I: Monday, January 20 – Australia wins by 57 points
- Second T20I: Thursday 23 January (8.40am) – Canberra
- Third T20I: Saturday January 25 (8.10am) – Adelaide
- test: Thursday 30 January – Sunday 2 February (3.30am) – Melbourne
