The recently concluded Women’s Ashes Series did not disappoint a bit. The whole series proved to be total entertainment with some high-quality performances throughout the series. The Aussies managed to retain the Ashes Trophy but the fightback the English Women showed was incredible. Just like the English Captain said, this has been the best series ever played in Women’s cricket history.
Let’s take a look at some of the best moments of this high-quality series.
1. Tammy Beaumont scoring a double century
ETCHED IN HISTORY BOOKS!
TAMMY BEAUMONT’S DOUBLE 💯#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/MZf5H3l5Mu
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 24, 2023
In the first innings of England, opener Tammy Beaumont was in superb form, scoring a deserved double century against the world-class bowling lineup of Aussies. The English opener scored a total of 208 runs from 331 balls, managing to hit 27 boundaries in the marathon innings. The opener troubled the Aussie bowlers throughout the innings, she managed to stay on the pitch for a whopping 498 minutes which roughly accounts for more than 8 hours of batting.
2. Spinners dominating the test
Sophie Ecclestone and Ashleigh Gardner both took a combined 22 wickets out of a total of 40.
☝️Heather Knight
☝️Nat Sciver-Brunt
☝️Sophia Dunkley3 Wickets for Ashleigh Gardner so far.
How many more will she pick on Day 3?#CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/AkZ4v6uPvs
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 24, 2023
Sophie Ecclestone, a left-arm orthodox bowler managed to take a 5-wicket haul in both innings, in the first innings she took the important wickets of McGrath, captain Healy, Jonassen as well as the tail-enders Kim Garth and Darcie Brown. She finished the innings with a bowling figures of 46.2-9-129-5. Australia managed to score 473 runs in that innings. Meanwhile, in the second innings, she took the wickets of dangerous opener Beth Mooney, the Centurian in the previous innings Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, captain Alyssa Healy, and Darcie Brown. Her figures in the second innings were more impressive than from the first, her bowling figures were 30.5-7-63-5.
Ashleigh Gardner, a right-arm off-spinner took 4 wickets in the first innings, those included of double-centurion Tammy Beaumont, Captain Heather Knight, star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophia Dunkley, her bowling figures were 25.2-3-99-4. In the second innings, her performance was probably one of the best women’s test matches, with her managing to claim 8 wickets. Yes, you read it right, 8 WICKETS!! Apart from Emma Bell, Sophia Dunkley, and Lauren Bell, she took everyone’s wicket.
3. England’s Resilient comeback
England lost their first 2 matches of this series, which enabled Australia to reach a total point of 6 while England were stuck on 0. With the English women trailing 0-6, it was looking very unlikely for them to get anything from the series, but they managed to pull the strings and staged one of the best comebacks in recent years to level the series 6-6. They managed to win the T20I series against the Aussies. Their comeback brought back some hope for the English to win the Ashes series.
From 6-0 to 6-6 Points in Women's Ashes
What a comeback this from ENGLAND #CricketTwitter #Ashes2023
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 12, 2023
4. Australia Retains the series, despite some late fightback from England
With the series tied at 6-6, it was important for England to win the next 2 matches to win the Ashes Series. They almost managed to win the next match, but Jess Jonassen’s brilliant last over stole the victory from the hands of England at the very last minute. This win made it official that Aussies have retained the Ashes, irrespective of the result of the next match which was also the last match of the series. England still had something to play for in the last match, as they had the opportunity to end Australia’s ODI series winning streak lasting from 2014. They did manage to win the last match, which leveled the score at 8-8. England won both the limited-overs series.
Australia retain the Women's Ashes 2023 #CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/1jYto74d7C
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 18, 2023
5. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s back-to-back Century
Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Australia’s biggest nemesis, managed to trouble the Aussies this time around also. She scored back-to-back centuries in the 2nd and 3rd ODI, her knock in the 2nd ODI went in vain but her team managed to change the scenario in the next ODI. In the second ODI, she scored 111* off 99 balls including 10 fours, she almost took England past the finish line, but Jess Jonassen’s incredible last over stopped her from doing so. In the third ODI she scored 129 from 149 balls which included 15 fours and 1 six, her knock in this match didn’t go in vain as England managed to win the match comprehensively.
Can we conclude – Nat enjoys batting against Australia? 😉#CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/yiVEnUCmRv
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 18, 2023
Loves all things female cricket