The Women’s Ashes will remain in Australia, the hosts romping to a six-wicket victory with 25 balls to spare in their first of three T20 internationals against England.
With 133 needed required to retain the trophy, Beth Mooney did not mess around. She took 14 off Katherine Brunt’s first over and never relented across a glittering unbeaten hand of 86 in 56 balls. No other Australian batsman made it to 20, but none needed to due to the dominance of the left-hander who was recalled to the white-ball team after missing the ODIs.
When she lashed the penultimate ball of the 16th over through cover point it prompted a ground invasion from her team-mates. Highlighting the Queenslander’s dominance, 56 of her runs came in boundaries, twice helping the ball on its way over the long-leg rope.
England’s bowlers badly misfired in what was a must-win encounter for Heather Knight’s side in the multi-format series with all six tried by England given heavy punishment in their opener overs as their defence of 132 for nine went quickly off the rails.
Mooney lapped and pulled aggressively to set the tone in the power play, looking equally comfortable with a string of inside-out drives that soon enough had Australia requiring fewer than a run a ball.
Earlier, the visitors’ top order had been ravaged after they were sent in, falling to 16 for four inside the opening five overs. At that point, Ellyse Perry was on a hat-trick after finding Tammy Beaumont and Brunt’s edges in consecutive deliveries.
In the chaotic opening burst, Knight fell to the second ball of the match when she nicked Jess Jonassen to Alyssa Healy. But where the wicketkeeper’s gloves were positioned caused minutes of confusion, the television umpire needing dozens of replays to confirm it was a clean catch.
Next went Sarah Taylor, the superstar number three trapped in front by Megan Schutt first legal delivery. It was a line-ball call, but an excellent piece of swing bowling. She went on to take three further scalps at either side of the innings in an effective and efficient display.
Dani Wyatt batted superbly from this point, twice clobbering Jess Jonassen down the ground to belatedly kickstart England’s night. Salvaging the innings, she also earned her a maiden international half-century more than seven years after first turning out for her country.
She had Nat Sciver for support, who was helped by the hosts when they put down twice on one. It took a while, but the all-rounder got into her innings with a pair of punishing standing sweeps, adding an important 26 to a partnership worth 64 runs in 49 balls.
Wyatt’s 36-ball half-century went no further when running herself out in a mix-up with Fran Wilson. But the new batsman finished off the job recovery, sweeping 23 not out in 22 balls.
With disaster averted, and a serviceable total posted, England came into the halfway mark with their heads up. But Mooney’s belligerent approach meant that didn’t last long.
Brunt’s night with the ball followed the first-ball duck she made with the bat, smashed for 33 in three overs. The trio of spinners fared better, but only just.
After conceding 45 runs in the six power-play overs only a collapse would deny Australia wrapping up the series at the first time of asking in the T20s. It never came, Mooney keeping the foot down until the result was secured.
“In a chase you never want to leave it to the last moment so the way Beth batted with that intent was awesome to watch,” Rachael Haynes, the victorious Australian captain, said.
“It is a great feeling. One of a little bit of relief and one of excitement as well for our team. Especially if you think back to earlier this year at the bitter disappointment in the change rooms when we lost that world cup semi-final.”
Knight said her team were hurting after doing so well to fight back into the series. “We came out here to try and get them back and we haven’t done that and it hurts,” she said. “Australia is a tough place to play cricket. But I couldn’t be more proud of how the girls have fought and stood up to that toughness and tried to throw a few punches back.”
With Australia’s insurmountable series lead now banked and their silverware locked away for another two years, the series moves to Canberra for the final two T20s beginning on Sunday.
