Women’s Ashes 2019 – T20 series – Australia Women vs England Women

Match 1 – County Ground, Chelmsford, England

Toss – Won by England Women and elected to bowl first

1^st Innings Summary – Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney padded up to open for the Southern Stars and Kate Cross had the new ball to start the proceedings. In-form Healy struck the first four of the innings on the fourth ball of the first over only to be caught out by Natalie Sciver on the very next ball. Sciver ran back from mid-on and took a brilliant catch to give the first breakthrough to the English team.

Meg Lanning joined Mooney in the middle as the latter struck three consecutive well-controlled fours to Anya Shrubsole in her first over. England missed a run-out chance on Lanning as the batter was hit on her helmet in the throw but was declared absolutely fine by the physiologist. Little did anyone know about Lanning’s plan for the day as she started targeting spinner Sophie Eccelstone and hit the first six of the match in 6^th over. There was no looking back for the Australian skipper after that. She went to hit every bowler and play shots at will. In no time, she reached her fifty in 9^th over and roared further.

Century partnership came up between Mooney and Lanning on the third ball of 10^th over as the former also reached her half-century in the same over. Australia’s scoreboard read 136/1 after the end of 12 overs and after a gruesome first spell of the spinners, England’s skipper brought Sophie Eccelstone back into attack in 13^th over. Mooney fell into Eccelstone’s trap and mistimed a shot that she wanted to loft over the head of mid-off as Lauren Winfield took a fine catch to end a magnificent 134run partnership for the second wicket.

Tammy Beaumont gave another life to the Australia’s captain by dropping her at backward point in the very next over. The batter, on the other hand, was determined to convert these chances into an innings of all times and hit an outstanding six over the deep mid-wicket to reach her century in a styled manner. Having reached the landmark in just 51 balls, Lanning was simply UNSTOPPABLE after that and was getting perfect support from Ashleigh Gardner on the other end.

Gardner became the second victim of Eccelstone who put an end to the youngster’s short yet significant cameo on the last ball of 18^th over. With 12 balls remaining, Ellyse Perry came on to the crease and joined the party. Meg Lanning became the highest individual scorer in T20Is of women’s cricket after hitting a six in the final over and remained unbeaten at 133 after the end of 20overs.

2^nd Innings Summary – Chasing a huge total, England suffered a disappointing start losing in-form T20 specialist, Danielle Wyatt in the first over itself. Gardner took a great catch at third man and Perry produced a wicket-maiden first over, giving an ideal start to Australia.

England, on the other hand, had both of their openers back into the hut after being reduced to 6/2 after first two overs. Adding miseries to their problem, Perry took another wicket in third over leaving the responsibility of a re-build on the shoulders of England’s captain, Heather Knight and middle-order batter Natalie Sciver. Knight survived an lbw appeal in the fifth over although TV replays showed three reds but got run out in the next over as England stood at 28/4 after the end of first powerplay.

None of the English batters could get better off the pressure as the asking rate kept going up with every passing over and wickets falling at regular intervals. Although Katherine Brunt and Winfield played some positive shots but could not hold their nerves for longer and were out of the hunt after the latter’s dismissal on the last ball of 15th over. Needing 129runs in last 30 balls, England could manage only 36, losing three more wickets in the process and giving a thumping 93run victory to the Southern Stars.

That’s what happens when our Ms. 360° decides to go all guns blazing! ??
What a knock! #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/I07k5EGtGt

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 27, 2019

Player of the match – Meg Lanning for her sensational 133* in just 63 balls which included 17 fours and seven sixes.

Other Remarkable Performances –

1. Beth Mooney (Australia) – 54 (33) (4s-8) (6s-1)
2. Megan Schutt (Australia) – 4-0-25-3
3. Ellyse Perry (Australia) – 3-0-11-2
4. Laura Marsh (England) – 25 (12) (4s-1) (6s-2)

Brief scorecard:

Australia Women – 226/3 (20 overs)

England Women – 133/9 (20 overs)

Result – Australia Women won by 93 runs

WORLD RECORD!
Who has the highest women’s T20I score now? #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/QjVzeGNKUP

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 27, 2019