England claimed a consolation victory in the women’s Ashes but it was Australia who claimed the series 10-6 on points.
For those watching for the first time, there was little in either batting performances in the third T20 international that advocated women’s cricket. England won by five wickets but there were poor shots aplenty, only a few cameos hinting at the talent that is there. It was a substandard and yet oddly fitting way to end this Ashes series.
Australia stuttered through their innings after England won the toss. Anya Shrubsole’s inswing accounted for Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani in the second over. Shrubsole bowled unchanged as Australia struggled to rotate the strike. Jess Cameron, frustrated by England’s accuracy, tried to pull Shrubsole over deep mid-wicket but was well held by Danielle Wyatt on the boundary.
Jess Jonassen’s golden duck and Ellyse Perry’s dismissal, bowled by Natalie Sciver as she shaped to cut, summed up a poor batting series for Australia. The majority of the team have played in all three formats, and their tired minds have shown. Grace Harris was a late call-up to the T20 squad and her freshness gave Australia brief impetus.
Harris used the pace of the pitch to blast three sixes from seven balls. As England’s bowlers strayed off line, she picked them up and launched them over the ropes. When she fell, caught trying to hit Sciver over short leg, Australia collapsed again. They could only add another seven runs as they were bowled out – the first time in the series – for a below-par 111.
England’s batting has grown progressively worse as the series has gone on. The promotion of Wyatt to open with Charlotte Edwards was intended to give them some early momentum, but Wyatt lasted only two balls. With no foot movement, Wyatt tried to drive and chopped Perry on to her stumps. Sarah Taylor capped off a poor Ashes series with her fifth single figure score, edging Rene Farrell behind for three.
Rightly or wrongly, England follow Edwards’ lead with the bat. If she falls, chances are the team will follow. Her dismissal, reaching at a wide Rene Farrell delivery and slapping it to backward point, rounded off a disappointing series.
Australia threw away their advantage with inaccurate bowling. Twice Megan Schutt sent wide deliveries down to the boundary and Australia lacked intensity in the field.
Sciver and Katherine Brunt grew more accustomed to the pitch. Despite an early mix-up, they ran well together, putting the fielders under pressure. Sciver thrashed Jonassen for a straight six as Brunt looked to play her naturally aggressive game. It was Lanning’s decision to bowl herself that broke their 55-run partnership as Brunt was trapped lbw.
Lydia Greenway and Sciver replicated their innings from the first ODI at Taunton. They rotated the strike, put the bowlers under pressure and, as they neared the total, found the boundary. Despite Sciver’s run out with six runs needed, England claimed victory with two overs left.
