After the first ODI, both Australia and England were hoping for a better performance with the bat. There was an improvement from both sides, but it ended up being just marginal as England wasted a good start and Australia struggled through the chase. In the end, Australia did just enough to win the two points that were on offer.
England’s captain, Heather Knight, won the toss and chose to bat first. Sarah Taylor missed out suffering a niggle with Danielle Wyatt coming in and Amy Jones doing the wicket-keeping duties for the day. Australia fielded the same team that played in the first ODI.
England lost a wicket early again as Amy Jones was dismissed by Ellyse Perry for 5 runs with the score on 5. Heather Knight shared a partnership of 65 runs with Tammy Beaumont before Ashleigh Gardner broke the stand with the score being 70/2. Natalie Sciver and Fran Wilson stayed with Tammy Beaumont but could not bat for long as Nat Sciver became the first victim of Delissa Kimmince and Wilson was accounted for by Jess Jonassen.
Danielle Wyatt joined Tammy Beaumont and provided the perfect foil for her. They kept the scoreboard ticking with Danni Wyatt striking a run-a-ball 25. Tammy Beaumont got a tickle towards square leg to score her maiden Ashes hundred and a sixth century in ODI cricket. With the partnership at 43 runs in only 48 balls, it seemed that 250 was on the cards. However, Danni Wyatt was caught by Alyssa Healy to the bowling of Megan Schutt. Tammy Beaumont quickly followed, getting bowled out by Jonassen for 114. Suddenly the scoreline read 187 for the loss of 6 wickets.
Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole kept the scoreboard moving and ensured that England crossed 200 without further damage. However, at 211/6 in 45 overs, Delissa Kimmince was brought back into the attack and she demolished the tail picking up 4 wickets in her next two overs. She ended up with her career-best figures of 5/26 in just 7.4 overs that she bowled. Jess Jonassen picked up 2 wickets while Megan Schutt, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner picked up a wicket each. Tammy Beaumont hit a century but no one was able to stay with her and contribute substantially as England fell away to 217 all out in 47.4 overs. For the second match in a row, they could not bat out 50 overs to get England to a fighting total.
England started very well with the ball as both Australian openers fell cheaply – Nicole Bolton was dismissed for 1 off the bowling of Kate Cross and Alyssa Healy was dismissed by Anya Shrubsole for 9.
With the match standing precariously at 17/2, Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry started rebuilding the innings. It could be worse with Australia’s score at 22 when Perry survived a stumping scare. Off the bowling of Cross, she played forward and missed and Jones broke the stumps. However, the third umpire deemed the replays inconclusive and the decision was taken in favour of Perry. She was only on 4 then and she went on to make 62 crucial runs. With the score on 59, Meg Lanning was dismissed by Katherine Brunt for 18 runs. Brunt landed awkwardly while celebrating, injuring herself in the process and assisted away from the field.
Rachel Haynes came in to put a 53-run stand with Perry as they continued their rebuild. Rachel Haynes soon got out caught-and-bowled to Laura Marsh for 30 with the score on 112. Shrubsole returned and dismissed the threatening Perry caught behind by Amy Jones to keep England’s hopes alive. She also bowled out Ashleigh Gardner for 13 runs to bring the Australian score to 158/6 and suddenly, the match hung in balance. Beth Mooney was joined by Jess Jonassen, the last recognized batter for Australia. They batted fluently and helped Australia across the line without any further loss of wickets to deny England the victory and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Ashes ODI leg. Perry was the top scorer for Australia, scoring 62 runs while Anya Shrubsole was the best performer for England with the ball, claiming 3 wickets.
Tammy Beaumont’s maiden Ashes century went in vain as Australia closed in on another victory and added 2 points to their score. England are still searching for their first win and answers with the bat to give their bowlers something substantial to defend. Added to this, they will also be affected by Katherine Brunt’s injury which they hope will not be severe enough for her to miss the next match. Australia put up a better display of their batting abilities but they will know that they can perform much better.
The teams head of to Canterbury for the third and final ODI match of the tour that will be played on July 7th before playing the traditional test match. The contest between the sides seems to have just begun.
England – 217 all out (47.4 overs)
Tammy Beaumont 114 (115)
Delissa Kimmince 5/26 (7.4)
Australia – 218/6 (45.2 overs)
Ellyse Perry 62 (79)
Anya Shrubsole 3/47 (8)