England W celebrated a resounding victory against Australia in Taunton, drawing the Women’s Ashes series and inflicting the first bilateral one-day international series defeat on the tourists since 2013.
The thrilling 69-run win resulted in a tied points-based and multi-format Ashes series at 8-8, but Australia retained the Ashes as the current holders. England’s triumph was fueled by the exceptional performances of Nat Sciver-Brunt, who recorded her second successive century and set up an imposing total of 285-9.
Despite early setbacks, Sciver-Brunt’s crucial partnership of 147 runs with skipper Heather Knight, who scored 67, provided the platform for England’s historic victory. Danni Wyatt’s explosive 43 off 25 balls further bolstered the home team’s total, setting Australia a revised target of 269 in 44 overs after rain interruptions.
In pursuit of the revised target, Australia’s batting line-up struggled to find momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals. Ellyse Perry showed resilience with partnerships of 53 and 45 with Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney, respectively.
However, England’s bowlers, led by Kate Cross’s impressive figures of 3-48, continued to chip away at Australia’s batting order. The visitors eventually stumbled from 190-6 to 199 all out, securing England’s historic victory.
The closely-fought Ashes series, the most competitive since 2017, showcased the fierce rivalry between the two of the best teams in women’s cricket. Despite England W winning more games in the series, the significance of Australia’s Test victory in June meant they retained the Ashes.
As England W continues its decade-long wait to reclaim the urn, both teams now look forward to their respective upcoming series, with England’s players preparing for The Hundred and a white-ball series against Sri Lanka, while Australia starts their series against Ireland on Sunday, 23 July.
Nat Sciver-Brunt Hits Back to Back Tons
Nat Sciver-Brunt proved her mettle once again, delivering a sensational century in front of a rapturous Taunton crowd. The fourth ODI century in just five innings against the world champions showcased her class and prowess with the bat, leaving Australia searching for answers against her relentless batting.
Sciver-Brunt’s century was a testament to her resilience and skill under pressure which she has kept on show since 2022 Women’s World Cup. Though her knock was slightly slower than her recent 99-ball 111* at Southampton, the circumstances were entirely different, as England batted first and lost early wickets. Despite the challenges, Sciver-Brunt held firm alongside skipper Heather Knight, using their experience to rotate the strike and capitalize on loose deliveries.
The platform set by Sciver-Brunt and Knight allowed England to unleash the dynamic Danni Wyatt against a fatigued Australian attack towards the end of an intense tour.
While the century may not have secured the Ashes for England, Sciver-Brunt’s exceptional performance in a series win firmly established her as one of the world’s greatest batters and an invaluable gem in England’s middle order.
Her match-winning abilities with both bat and ball make her an indispensable asset for the team, ensuring England’s batting lineup remains formidable on the global stage.
Ashleigh Gardner Had A Memorable Series
Australia’s all-rounder, Ashleigh Gardner, has had a quietly superb series, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with an impressive tally of 23 scalps. Her match-winning 12-wicket haul in the Test match at Trent Bridge set the tone for her exceptional performance throughout the series, concluding with another three wickets at Taunton, despite being on the losing side.
However, amidst England’s victories and Australia’s uncharacteristic mistakes, Gardner’s outstanding efforts have somewhat gone under the radar. At just 26 years of age, Gardner’s talent is staggering, evident in her all-round displays alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt, showcasing two of the world’s best players in action.
Despite Gardner’s individual success, the Australian team admitted to being outplayed, and captain Alyssa Healy expressed their dissatisfaction with the overall series performance.
The nuances of the multi-format series have resulted in both teams feeling less than fully satisfied, but the gripping Ashes summer has undoubtedly captivated players and fans alike with its mesmerizing and unpredictable moments.
As the series comes to a close, the performances of players like Ashleigh Gardner, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and others have injected life and excitement into the Ashes, creating enduring memories for cricket fans of both teams.
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