I’ll leave you with Raf Nicholson’s match report. Goodnight!
Tahlia McGrath's verdict
Yeah, very happy. The spinners did a fantastic job with the ball, we had a bit of a shaky start with the bat but then Bels and Ash were just world-class. It was clinical. I feel for Bels a bit, not getting a hundred – she thoroughly deserved it.
[On Alana King] I knew she was our key match-up; she’s got a really good record against England and matches up well against pretty much their whole batting line-up. I was debating bowling her overs straight through because she was on fire but decided to hold her back for some new batters. She was so good.
We missed our lengths a bit with the new ball so there’s a bit to tidy up there. And if we’re being critical they probably got 20 too many at the end. But if you told me 244 at the start of the game I’d have been stoked.
[On Annabel Sutherland] She’s such a gun. It’s scary how young she still is – she’s one of her hardest trainers, her planning’s meticulous. Whenever you’re in trouble you sort of just turn to Bels. She’s that good.
There’s still lots to improve and finetune. But we have the belief that we can win from any position.
[On Alyssa Healy’s fitness] She’s tracking nicely but it’s day by day. I’ll leave that to the physios.
Nat Sciver-Brunt's reaction
We didn’t have enough runs. Alana King bowled really well to restrict us and it was very difficult to get a partnership together.
I think the conditions did change a bit when the lights came on. We bowled well in patches but the partnership between Ash and Belsy took the game away for us.
[What would have been a good score?] I think I’d have been happy with 280.
[What could you have done better against Alana King?] I guess being really clearer on what shots you want to play and then trying to get her to bowl the length you want. That’s something I’ll be reflecting on myself.
[On Tammy Beaumont] She’s been battling really hard in the nets to put on a performance like that. She was really focussed today and I’m really pleased for her that she managed to get a score.
[On the partnership between Sutherland and Gardner] We just couldn’t control them with the ball. We had patches of building pressure but the fourball kept coming. We probably tried a few too many things; maybe keeping it simple was the way to go.
We’ll review this game very carefully. Against a quality side you have to be really good for the whole game; we weren’t as good as Australia today. I don’t think we’ve played our best game yet. We’ll be ready for Australia if we meet them again.
The player of the match is Annabel Sutherland
It was pretty fun out there. It’s always good batting with Ash, she keeps the game moving. It’s such a hard ground to defend on.
Once you got in, it was a nice wicket to bat on with a fast outfield. I just wanted to spend some time in the middle. I know when I get in, I’ll cash in, so I’ve been tinkering with a few things mentally to give myself the best chance.
Our spinners did a fantastic job, particularly Alana King, and stalled their momentum.
[On her bowling] It’s a little bit about trusting your instincts. I feel like I’ve got the skilols to change the tempo where I need to. But I feel like hitting my stock ball has been working for me.
[On not making a century] I was happy for Ash to get it done!
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Australia are awesome. This is hardly breaking news, but the ease with which Sutherland and Gardner took care of business was quite something.
After 20 overs, Australia were 78 for 4 and in a bit of bother. So they scored 170 for 0 off the next 20.3 overs, because why wouldn’t you.
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Australia win by six wickets with 57 balls to spare
40.3 overs: Australia 248-4 (Sutherland 98, Gardner 104) Sutherland tries to win the game with a six off Ecclestone, slices the ball high in the air and is dropped by Knight! It was a really tough chance running back from cover.
Sutherland gets two runs instead, then takes a single down the ground to bring the scores level. After a quick chat between the two, Gardner hammers the winning boundary over mid-off. Sutherland isn’t worried about making a century: three wickets and a fabulous 98 not out will do nicely.
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A stunning hundred from Ash Gardner!
40th over: Australia 241-4 (Sutherland 95, Gardner 100) Sutherland and Gardner should both be able to reach their centuries before the game is over. They certainly deserve to after a partnership of the highest class.
Gardner is first to three figures, edging Bell for four to bring the entire Australia dugout to their feet. It’s her second hundred of the World Cup, both on this ground – this one took only 70 balls.
She pointedly defends the rest of the over, including a low full toss, so that Sutherland is on strike at the start of the next over. Australia need four to win, Sutherland needs five for her hundred.
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39th over: Australia 234-4 (Sutherland 92, Gardner 96) I spoke too soon, way too soon. Gardner hits 10 from Ecclestone’s first three balls to move level with Sutherland, including a cracking drive over extra cover.
After the pair trade singles, Gardenr edges another boundary to move to 96. Bloody hell she’s only faced 68 balls! That means she’s hit 91 from her last 53 deliveries.
38th over: Australia 218-4 (Sutherland 91, Gardner 81) Gardner mishits a slower ball from Bell high in the air, yet even that bisects the two England fielders running towards long off.
It looks like Sutherland is winning the century race. She lashes Bell superbly through the covers for four to move into the nineties – and bring up the 150 partnership from 136 balls. It’s been awesome.
37th over: Australia 209-4 (Sutherland 85, Gardner 79) This will be Australia’s 14th straight win at the 50-over World Cup. I’ll level with you: I think they might go on to win it!
36th over: Australia 205-4 (Sutherland 83, Gardner 77) Gardner, who started the World Cup with a spectacular 115 from 83 balls against New Zealand on this ground, looks like she fancies another. She hammers three consecutive fours off Capsey to move closer to that milestone.
Gardner needs 23 for her hundred, Sutherland needs 17 and Australia need 40 to win. Simple, right?
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35th over: Australia 190-4 (Sutherland 82, Gardner 63) Linsey Smith returns in the hope of pinching another wicket. Good luck with that – Australia are in complete control of this runchase.
Drinks: Australia need 59 from 96 balls to win
34th over: Australia 186-4 (Sutherland 80, Gardner 61) Sutherland and Gardner have played England’s five main bowlers with aplomb, so it’s time for Alice Capsey to have a go. A quiet first over is milked for three singles, and that’s drinks.
Ash Gardner reaces to fifty!
33rd over: Australia 183-4 (Sutherland 78, Gardner 60) Gardner pulls a slower ball from Sciver-Brunt for four to reach a brilliant fifty from only 47 balls. It’s the first of three successive fours: another pull is followed by a majestic, hold-the-pose drive over mid-off.
Australia have scored* 105 from the last 13 overs are are romping to victory.
* I was going to say hit, but they’ve stroked most of the runs. It’s been a masterclass in risk management.
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32nd over: Australia 169-4 (Sutherland 77, Gardner 47) Sutherland tries to cut Ecclestone, is beaten for pace and top-edges for four. Maybe England could have had a slip in but it’s easy to say from here.
Sutherland waves a single to bring up a marvellous century partnership from only 97 balls. She and Gardner have played with such composure and certainty.
31st over: Australia 163-4 (Sutherland 72, Gardner 46) Sciver-Brunt drifts onto leg stump and is lofted behind square for four by Sutherland, who may soon have a century to go with the 15 wickets she has taken in this World Cup.
The calmness with which Australia have extricated themselves from bother is pretty scary for everyone else in this tournament.
Between overs 21-30, England scored only 26 runs. Australia have hit 77. They’re just a bit too good.
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30th over: Australia 155-4 (Sutherland 66, Gardner 44) Ecclestone puts her hands to her head after starting her second spell with a leg-stump full toss that Gardner clips easily for four.
One of the impressive things about Gardner is her ability to make scoring at a run a ball look almost straightforward. She has 44 not out from 42 balls tonight, and that’s after being 5 not out from 15.
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28th over: Australia 148-4 (Sutherland 65, Gardner 38) Nat Sciver-Brunt brings herself back and almost strikes with a big off-cutter that Sutherland inside-edges onto the pad. Beautifully bowled but the LBW appeal was caught in the throat.
27th over: Australia 142-4 (Sutherland 61, Gardner 36) A grubber from Dean bounces between Sutherland’s legs and past leg stump. England needed that to be straighter because Sutherland was completely done by the uneven bounce.
Dean tries her luck around the wicket – and gets precisely none when Gardner edges a beauty for four. It zipped off the pitch to take a leading edge as Gardner tried to work the ball into the leg side. Jones had no chance to react and the ball ran away to the boundary.
After a superb recovery, Australia need 105 from 138 balls.
27th over: Australia 135-4 (Sutherland 60, Gardner 31) Sutherland walks down the track to thread Bell between mid-off and extra cover for four. That’s a gorgeous shot, perfectly placed, and for the first time England look a bit helpless in the field.
Gardner tightens Australia[’s grip on the game with a fierce back cut for four. She’s flying along: 5 from the first 15 deliveries, 26 from the last 17.
Fifty for Annabel Sutherland!
26th over: Australia 123-4 (Sutherland 54, Gardner 26) Sutherland chips Dean, who has changed ends, over extra cover for four to bring up a class, level-headed fifty, her first of the tournament.
Gardner squirts the last ball for two make it nine from the over. Runs are coming too easily for England’s liking.
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25th over: Australia 114-4 (Sutherland 48, Gardner 23) There is a change of pace: Dean off, Bell back on. She starts with a wide but then keeps it tight to both right-handers. What England really need is a wicket; a few dot balls will do for now.
24th over: Australia 111-4 (Sutherland 47, Gardner 22) Having played straight throughout her innings, Sutherland sweeps Smith almost nonchalantly for six. This is an excellent spell for Australia, who have scored 33 from the last four overs. It might be time for a change of pace.
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23rd over: Australia 100-4 (Sutherland 38, Gardner 20) Sutherland is using her feet a lot more now, particularly to Dean, and looks in the mood to anchor the innings. Gardner pulls a single to bring up Australia’s hundred.
22nd over: Australia 97-4 (Sutherland 37, Gardner 18) Smith replaces Ecclestone (6-0-26-1) and threatens a breakthrough when a lofted drive from Gardner lands just short of Dean at long off. The ball bounces past Dean and goes for four, with Gardner clipping the next delivery for three more. She’s starting to look dangerous.
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21st over: Australia 88-4 (Sutherland 36, Gardner 10) Sutherland skips down to square-drive Dean for four, the first Australian boundary in 28 balls. They only have to wait three deliveries for the next, which comes when Dean strays onto Gardner’s pads and is dragged behind square. A good over for Australia, 10 from it.
20th over: Australia 78-4 (Sutherland 31, Gardner 5) Ecclestone continues in pursuit of that fifth wicket, which would put England decisively on top. Sutherland and Gardner treat everything with respect and manage just a single apiece.
Australia need 167 from 180 balls.
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19th over: Australia 76-4 (Sutherland 30, Gardner 4) England are turning the screw, with only 24 runs coming from the last eight overs. The required rate is still a manageable 5.45, though, so Australia’s main priority right now is to avoid losing a fifth wicket.
18th over: Australia 73-4 (Sutherland 29, Gardner 2) Gardner crashes a drive off Ecclestone that is half stopped by Smith at extra cover, a good piece of fielding that saves a run. Every little helps.
Four singles from Ecclestone’s over. She hasn’t bowled that well by her standards but picked up Mooney’s wicket and has decent figures of 5-0-24-1.
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17th over: Australia 69-4 (Sutherland 27, Gardner 0) Charlie Dean comes into the attack, which should mean spin from both ends for the first time in the innings. She starts nicely, beating Gardner with a delivery tossed well wide of off stump. One from the over.
16th over: Australia 68-4 (Sutherland 26, Gardner 0) Ash Gardner is the new batter. Only Sutherland, Gardner, McGrath, Molineux, Garth, King and Schutt to go, then England will have this in the bag.
WICKET! Australia 68-4 (Mooney c Sciver-Brunt b Ecclestone 20)
England’s decision to use almost half Ecclestone’s overs so early in the innings is an intriguing change of approach. And now it’s a successful one!
Mooney jumps all over a short ball, hammering a pull towards midwicket – only for Sciver-Brunt to swoop to her left and take a brilliant two-handed catch!
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15th over: Australia 62-3 (Mooney 19, Sutherland 21)
14th over: Australia 58-3 (Mooney 18, Sutherland 18) Sutherland almost offers a caught and bowled chance with a check drive off the back foot. Ecclestone’s weight was on the wrong foot, her right, and she had no chance when the ball dipped towards her left ankle.
Five singles from the over. Mooney, in particular, is rotating the strike expertly.
13th over: Australia 53-3 (Mooney 16, Sutherland 15) Sutherland mistimes a couple of attacking strokes off Sciver-Brunt, then gets a bonus run when an England fielder is beaten by a nasty bounce off one of the practice pitches. Two from the over.
12th over: Australia 51-3 (Mooney 15, Sutherland 14) A lovely second over from Ecclestone includes five successive dot balls to Sutherland, who by the end of the over was looking only to defend.
11th over: Australia 50-3 (Mooney 14, Sutherland 14) It’s hard to believe this is the first time Sutherland has reached double figures in the tournament; her previous scores were 5, 1 and 0. She’s a class act, as is Mooney, and at the moment they are eating into the target without alarm.
Australia need 195 from 39 overs.
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10th over: Australia 46-3 (Mooney 12, Sutherland 13) That was the last ball of Ecclestone’s over.
Sutherland is not out!
It might have been close had there not been an inside edge onto the pad. Next!
England review for LBW against Sutherland
England have held Sophie Ecclestone back in most of their games at this tournament. Not today; she’s coming on for the final over of the Powerplay.
Sutherland, helped by a misfield from Sciver-Brunt in the covers, punches her first ball for three. Mooney cuts for four – then Sutherland survives a big LBW appeal after playing back. This looks close.
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9th over: Australia 38-3 (Mooney 7, Sutherland 10) After a spell of 4-0-17-1, Bell is replaced by her captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. She starts well, beating Mooney outside off, but then drops short and is pulled for four by Sutherland.
8th over: Australia 32-3 (Mooney 6, Sutherland 5) Sutherland, given a fraction of width by Smith, drives beautifully between the two cover fielders for four. That’s the shot of the innings so far.
“Hi Rob,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “Down 26 for 3 and chasing 245, if you say Australia won’t be worried yet, what is the procedure to acquire such a mindset?”
26 for 9? They’d probably still fancy their chances then.
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7th over: Australia 27-3 (Mooney 4, Sutherland 1) Another tight over from Bell yields just a single for Mooney. This is intriguingly poised – the required rate isn’t a factor, at least not yet, so both teams are attacking with a degree of caution.
6th over: Australia 26-3 (Mooney 4, Sutherland 1) Australia won’t be worried yet, such is their extraordinary batting depth. Even so, this is just the start England needed.
WICKET! Australia 24-3 (Perry ct and b Smith 13)
England’s not-so-secret weapon strikes again! Perry tried to cuff Smith across the line and gets a leading edge straight back to the bowler. What a tournament Linsey Smith is having; that’s her ninth wicket in six games, the majority of which have been taken in the Powerplay.
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5th over: Australia 23-2 (Perry 13, Mooney 2) Bell gets her line just right during a much better over, including five successive dot balls to Perry.
4th over: Australia 22-2 (Perry 13, Mooney 1) There was an amusing shot of Alyssa Healy watching a replay of Voll’s dismissal in the Australia dug out. She shook her head gently, more in bemusement than anger, before turning on her heels. It was a bit of a wild shot from Voll.
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WICKET! Australia 21-2 (Voll b Smith 6)
Georgia Voll loses her wicket – and a bit of dignity to boot. She missed a slogsweep at Smith, heard the ball plink the off stump and then lost her balance as she tried to get to her feet. Voll staggered a couple of steps before doing a backwards rollover as E England began to celebrate.
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3rd over: Australia 21-1 (Voll 6, Perry 13) Bell is really struggling to control her line to the right-handers. Two more legside deliveries are put for four by Perry, one each through square leg and midwicket. Excellent batting but England can’t afford to give Australia such freebies.
“Welcome back,” says John Starbuck. “I see Taha referred to you taking over for the chase. Do you see yourself as a huntsman? It could be a useful persona for a cricketer. Though minus the horses and hounds, some of the kit they wear these days might qualify.”
John, you’ve been part of the OBO family for a decade and more. Do you think I see myself as a huntsman?
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2nd over: Australia 12-1 (Voll 5, Perry 6) Voll would get into every other team in this tournament; she’s only playing today because of Alyssa Healy’s minor calf strain. In a sense it’s a free hit for Voll and she has started in that vein; after a couple of big shots for one, she gets her first boundary by walloping Linsey Smith down the ground.
It was in the air and almost wiped out the umpire Jacqueline Williams, but there was no real chance of a return catch.
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1st over: Australia 6-1 (Voll 1, Perry 4) Bell doesn’t adjust her line for the right-handed Ellyse Perry and is put away for four.
An excellent point from Mel Jones on commentary – Litchfield was only on strike because of a superb piece of fielding from Emma Lamb off the previous delivery. Georgia Voll slapped Bell towards the third boundary, where Lamb reacted very smartly to turn a potential boundary into only a single.
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WICKET! Australia 2-1 (Litchfield b Bell 1)
Bowled ‘er! Lauren Bell strikes third ball with an utter jaffa. It swung slightly onto leg stump, then seamed the other way to peg back the off stump as Litchfield pushed down the wrong line. What a beautiful delivery.
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Carlos Brathwaite, part of the ICC commentary team, thinks England are 50-60 tuns short. We’ll soon find out: Lauren Bell is about to open the bowling to Phoebe Litchfield.
Thanks Taha, hello everyone. The consensus on the TV coverage is that, even without Alyssa Healy, Australia are strong favourites to chase down 245. Alana King said there isn’t as much dew as Australia anticipated, but it remains an obvious advantage batting second.
That’s all from me, with Rob Smyth taking over for the chase. Enjoy!
Beaumont top-scored with 78, having turned it up at the start alongside Amy Jones. But Australia kept the key pair, Knight and Sciver-Brunt, quiet; Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb could not make up for their departures. Plenty of credit goes to Alice Capsey and Charlie Dean for providing some thrust in the later overs.
Australia need 245 from 50 overs
Ecclestone finishes well, sweeping Molineux away for four. England have something to play with but they really struggled through the middle overs, tightening up against spin.
50th over: England 244-9 (Ecclestone 10, Bell 2)
WICKET! Smith run out Voll/Molineux 3 (England 236-9)
There’s a mix-up but it’s not a straightforward run out for Molineux, the bowler, to complete, still a few yards away from the non-striker’s stumps after collecting a throw from the deep. She nails an overarm throw to send Smith on her way.
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49th over: England 235-8 (Ecclestone 5, Smith 3) Ecclestone closes Gardner’s final over with a fine shot to the boundary, guiding a fuller delivery through point.
WICKET! Dean c Litchfield b Gardner 26 (England 227-8)
There goes Dean, coming down the pitch but miscueing the ball to Litchfield at extra cover.
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48th over: England 227-7 (Dean 26, Ecclestone 0) That ends England’s highest stand of the innings: they produced 61 off 52 balls.
WICKET! Capsey lbw Molineux 38 (England 227-7)
Dean has brought real energy to this innings, the reverse-sweep coming out again to produce one. But Capsey’s knock is over, trapped leg-before by Molineux after missing with a sweep … it’s reviewed but she knows she’s a goner. The ball is shown to be hitting leg.
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47th over: England 223-6 (Dean 24, Capsey 36) Brutal: Capsey waits on the Sutherland slower ball and sweeps it for four. Dean shows her chops with a deft ramp for a boundary and Sutherland, all of a sudden, has expensive figures. She finishes with three for 60 off her 10.
46th over: England 212-6 (Dean 19, Capsey 30) After four singles, Capsey gets a little tickle down the leg side off Molineux, running all the way to the ropes. She’s on 30 off 26 and a total of 250 doesn’t seem out of reach.
45th over: England 203-6 (Dean 17, Capsey 23) This is excellent from Capsey: she laces Sutherland through point before shovelling a loopy slower ball behind square on the leg side for back-to-back boundaries.
44th over: England 194-6 (Dean 17, Capsey 14) Dean sweeps away a Gardner full toss but they have to settle for two when closing the over.
43rd over: England 190-6 (Dean 14, Capsey 13) Dean pulls Sutherland for four, with Gardner unable to palm it away. Capsey joins in, too, swivelling for a boundary to give England a much-needed push.
42nd over: England 179-6 (Dean 9, Capsey 7) Charlie Dean pulls out the reverse-sweep, a shot ignored by the rest of the batters today. She gets an under-edge off Gardner that runs away for four.
41st over: England 172-6 (Dean 3, Capsey 6) King finishes with one for 20 off 10 overs, a delicious spell with some big-turning deliveries.
40th over: England 168-6 (Dean 1, Capsey 4) Gardner twirls through the rest of her over with little bother. Charlie Dean does have some form with the bat, averaging just under 50 in the tournament.
WICKET! Dunkley st Mooney b Gardner 22 (England 166-6)
Dunkley takes a risk … and it doesn’t pay off. She comes down the pitch to Gardner and tries to swish across the line. There’s no contact off the bat; Mooney collects and completes the stumping. Dunkley finishes with 22 off 48, the innings never going her way.
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39th over: England 166-5 (Dunkley 22, Capsey 3) King returns and Dunkley continues to resist the big shot, facing two dots before dabbing for a single. Dunkley nearly offers a return grab to King with a leading edge to close the over.
38th over: England 163-5 (Dunkley 20, Capsey 2) Now it’s Alice Capsey’s turn. She gets off the mark with a dig into the leg side off Molineux for two.
WICKET! Lamb b Sutherland 7 (England 160-5)
Dunkley drives a Sutherland cutter past cover before pushing the ball through point … and then a wicked slower ball befuddles Lamb! It’s back of the hand again, sneaking past Lamb’s bat and on to the stumps. She didn’t read that at all and her difficult tournament continues.
37th over: England 160-5 (Dunkley 19, Capsey 0)
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36th over: England 154-4 (Dunkley 15, Lamb 6) Beaumont tried to go big … who does that now for England? Perhaps it’s Lamb while Dunkley anchors – the former clips Molineux down the leg side for four.
35th over: England 148-4 (Dunkley 14, Lamb 1) Emma Lamb enters with a high score of 13 in the tournament.
WICKET! Beaumont c Voll b Sutherland 78 (England 147-4)
Beaumont looks to attack Sutherland, a mis-hit just evading mid-off. The opener misses an attempted scoop but so does Mooney behind the stumps, the ball running away to the ropes. And then the breakthrough: Beaumont tries to launch Sutherland over long-on, but she doesn’t get enough against the back-of-the-hand slower ball. Georgia Voll has to do a little juggle by the ropes but holds on.
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34th over: England 141-3 (Dunkley 14, Beaumont 72) Nasser Hussain and Aaron Finch debate the lack of sweeps by England, with inconsistent bounce a possible reason. They continue to play straight to Molineux, who concedes four singles.
33rd over: England 137-3 (Dunkley 12, Beaumont 70) Sutherland is back, the all-rounder having led the squeeze with the wicket of Amy Jones in the powerplay. With the keeper up to the stumps … Sutherland unleashes a bouncer. Mooney takes it nicely. Dunkley and Beaumont have to make do with a couple of singles.
32nd over: England 135-3 (Dunkley 11, Beaumont 69) Beaumont wallops Gardner through the covers … but not to the boundary. We haven’t had a hit to the ropes in 10 overs.
31st over: England 130-3 (Dunkley 10, Beaumont 65) Beaumont launches a dive at the striker’s end to complete a quick single off King. She hurts her arm in the process, forcing a break in play. When it resumes King produces a couple of sumptuous leg-breaks to Beaumont; Australia go upstairs for the second one, hoping there’s an edge on it before Mooney’s grab behind the stumps. It’s a flat line on UltraEdge.
And then another ripper, with the ball turning enough to beat Mooney and run to the boundary for byes. King’s bowling some delicious stuff here.
30th over: England 124-3 (Dunkley 9, Beaumont 64) The batting pair nab six off the over but they need to be more explosive in the next 10.
29th over: England 118-3 (Dunkley 7, Beaumont 61) Beaumont is really going at it with the sweeps now, getting the lap out to take two off King. The boundaries have disappeared though ... and King thinks she’s got Beaumont lbw with the last ball of the over. Australia opt against a review – was there a bit of bat on it? Here come the replays … yep.
28th over: England 116-3 (Dunkley 7, Beaumont 59) Beaumont sweeps Gardner, too, but she can’t beat short fine leg. Australia are easing through their overs.
27th over: England 114-3 (Dunkley 6, Beaumont 58) Beaumont gets the sweep out against King to produce one, but the leg-spinner maintains ridiculous figures: she has one for nine off six overs. Sciver-Brunt tried to attack her, and that didn’t end well.
26th over: England 112-3 (Dunkley 5, Beaumont 57) Dunkley and Beaumont run up the singles off Gardner.
25th over: England 108-3 (Dunkley 3, Beaumont 55) The dots are building up for Dunkley but she gets herself to the other end with a drive through the covers for one. England are 53-3 off the last 17 overs.
24th over: England 107-3 (Dunkley 2, Beaumont 55) Ashleigh Gardner’s off-breaks are introduced and Dunkley misses out when the ball drops short.
23rd over: England 106-3 (Dunkley 1, Beaumont 55) Sophia Dunkley has a high score of 18 in the tournament; she joins Beaumont out in the middle.
WICKET! Sciver-Brunt c Sutherland b King 7 (England 105-3)
King gets the big one! She flights it up and invites Sciver-Brunt to launch straight … but the captain miscues to Sutherland at mid-off. England’s out-of-form middle order has some serious work to do.
22nd over: England 104-2 (Sciver-Brunt 7, Beaumont 54) Sciver-Brunt stays watchful against Garth until she swats across the line to close the over with her first boundary of the innings.
21st over: England 98-2 (Sciver-Brunt 1, Beaumont 54) There it is: King lands a lush leg-break, turning the ball past Beaumont’s forward prod. The opener is forced to show respect and can’t connect properly with the cut when King drops short.
Half-century for Tammy Beaumont!
20th over: England 98-2 (Sciver-Brunt 1, Beaumont 54) Garth returns and Beaumont doesn’t mind: a wonderful late cut – it wasn’t that wide – bring her a half-century, her first of this tournament.
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19th over: England 91-2 (Sciver-Brunt 0, Beaumont 48) King skips through her over with little trouble, conceding just one. England’s run rate has fallen to 4.79 after their rapid start with Jones and Beaumont.
18th over: England 90-2 (Sciver-Brunt 0, Beaumont 47) Sciver-Brunt blocks out her opening delivery. She averages 58.57 in ODIs against Australia. Tidy.
WICKET! Knight lbw Molineux 20 (England 90-2)
The shot of the innings so far: Knight comes down the pitch to Molineux and lofts the ball over extra cover for four … and then a serious leg-before shout. The ball skids on straight to leave Knight, going back, in trouble, but the finger doesn’t go up. Australia review … and it’s three reds, with the ball crashing into leg stump!
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17th over: England 86-1 (Knight 16, Beaumont 47) Here comes the King. Australia’s gun leggie twirls away, with not a great deal of turn on offer. She tosses one up to Knight, inviting an unconvincing drive, the drift causing some discomfort.
While we’ve got a moment, here’s this week’s Spin:
16th over: England 83-1 (Knight 14, Beaumont 46) Knight gets in on the attack, coming down the pitch against Molineux to clip over midwicket for four. The players break for drinks.
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15th over: England 77-1 (Knight 9, Beaumont 45) Beaumont charges but Sutherland drops short: the batter adapts quickly to pull for one. When Mooney comes up to the stumps, Beaumont stays in her crease and lofts over mid-on for four, a fine stroke that proves Sutherland isn’t unplayable.
14th over: England 69-1 (Knight 7, Beaumont 39) Molineux keeps the squeeze going, giving away just a couple of singles.
13th over: England 67-1 (Knight 6, Beaumont 38) Sutherland nabs Knight’s outside edge with a cross-seam delivery … but it comfortably beats the dive of Mooney to her right, jumping away to the ropes. The Australia quick is in complete control; England are going to have to attack from the other end.
12th over: England 62-1 (Knight 2, Beaumont 37) Sophie Molineux’s left-arm spin enters the game and Knight dabs the third ball into the leg side for one. Beaumont finally gets moving again with a launch to the midwicket rope for four – this is now her highest score of the tournament.
11th over: England 56-1 (Knight 1, Beaumont 32) Beaumont is suddenly stuck, unable to move from 32 with Sutherland relentless. England have scored just one run off the last 21 deliveries.
10th over: England 55-1 (Knight 0, Beaumont 32) Garth follows up the excellent work of Sutherland with another maiden, keeping Beaumont in her crease. It’s still a fine powerplay for England, but Australia have an opening.
WICKET! Jones b Sutherland 18 (England 55-1)
Australia need to change something, and that means the arrival of Annabel Sutherland, 12 wickets in the tournament so far at an average of 10.16. She’s immediately locked in, beating Jones outside off and hitting the bat hard. And then the wicket! It’s full, angled in, and Jones – playing across the line – has her off stump knocked back. A wicket maiden and, well, silly of me to prematurely call England the victors of the powerplay.
9th over: England 55-1 (Knight 0, Beaumont 32)
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8th over: England 55-0 (Jones 18, Beaumont 32) Wonderful from Beaumont, the wrists in good order as she flicks Garth to the boundary, once through midwicket, then to fine leg. Then a cut for four! Three dots follow but this powerplay already belongs to England.
7th over: England 43-0 (Jones 18, Beaumont 20) Schutt brings a bit of calm, testing Jones out with a yorker.
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6th over: England 41-0 (Jones 17, Beaumont 19) Beaumont closes a tight over with a deft dab behind point that beats the field and sprints to the boundary. England are racing.
5th over: England 35-0 (Jones 16, Beaumont 14) Schutt drops short with a leg-cutter and Jones welcomes it, pulling with authority to the boundary. A delicious couple of cuts follow, with Schutt losing her length.
4th over: England 23-0 (Jones 4, Beaumont 14) Beaumont is forced back into the crease with Mooney up to the stumps, and Garth keeps her there with some fine stump-to-stump bowling. Maiden.
3rd over: England 23-0 (Jones 4, Beaumont 14) Jones, even from a handful of deliveries, looks in fine touch here. She takes just two off Schutt’s over but is hitting the ball sweetly.
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2nd over: England 21-0 (Jones 2, Beaumont 14) Kim Garth is up from the other end, and her opening delivery – a full outswinger – is nicely driven by Jones for one. The quick is called for a no-ball … and Beaumont wallops the free hit down the ground for six! That’s a very confident stroke. There’s another, with Beaumont coming down the pitch to drive through cover for four. Beth Mooney comes up to the stumps to halt Beaumont’s adventurous footwork; out come leg-byes to the fine-leg rope.
1st over: England 5-0 (Jones 1, Beaumont 4) Megan Schutt hops in, ready to nip the ball back in to the two right-handers. Jones clips the first ball for a single and Beaumont is grateful for a long hop, pulling behind square for four. Beaumont shows off a proper forward defence to close the over, getting the front foot right out to smother the ball.
The anthems have wrapped up and the players are out on the field. Amy Jones takes the strike for England.
The teams
England are unchanged: Danni Wyatt-Hodge misses out again despite the struggles of the middle order. Australia bring in Georgia Voll for Healy, with Sophie Molineux and Kim Garth in, too.
Australia: Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney (wk), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath (c), Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt
England: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
Australia win the toss and choose to bowl first
Tahlia McGrath is Australia’s captain, filling in for the injured Healy. She gets off to a good start, winning the toss and choosing to bowl first.
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Here’s Raf’s preview:
Amy Jones has claimed that January’s Ashes whitewash “hasn’t been a topic of discussion” before Wednesday’s World Cup clash between England and Australia. If you believe that, you will believe anything.
Preamble
Someone’s unbeaten run is coming to an end today. Australia and England are already through to the semi-finals – taking a touch of jeopardy out of this contest – but this remains a big one. Both have identical records, with four wins and one abandonment, but the advantage remains with the Australians: this is the first time the two sides are meeting since England’s nightmare Ashes.
That 16-0 mauling was followed by the appointment of Nat Sciver-Brunt as captain, replacing Heather Knight – yet the former skipper remains vital. Knight is England’s leading run-scorer in the tournament, propping up the batting with Sciver-Brunt while the rest struggle. They must go again today against a side missing the in-form Alyssa Healy – out with a calf injury – but always ready to show off their incredible depth. How much have England changed under Sciver-Brunt and Charlotte Edwards? Maybe we’ll get a clearer answer today. We’ll get going at 10.30am BST/8.30pm AEDT.
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