England with a win in the opener of the ongoing 3-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Australia have levelled the multi-format Women’s Ashes series 6-all. The series decider is slated to be played on the 16th of July, 2023, at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton, and commences at 3:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
In the opener, Australia set a challenging target of 263 runs on the board, courtesy of contributions of Phoebe Litchfield (34), Ellyse Perry (41), and Jess Jonassen (30), but it was Beth Mooney who played a key role, remaining unbeaten on 81*(99). In response, Tammy Beaumont (47), Alice Capsey (40), and Nat Sciver-Brunt (31) chipped in with handy runs, however, it was the brilliant partnership between skipper Heather Knight (75*) and Kate Cross (19*) that sealed the win for England with 11 balls and 2 wickets to spare.
Squads:
England – Heather Knight (C), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (WK), Lauren Filer, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt
Australia – Alyssa Healy (C), Tahlia McGrath (VC), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
Players to watch out:
Alice Capsey
The 18-year-old all-rounder in 5 ODIs has accumulated 120 runs with the highest score of 40 that she got to in the series opener. Alice has shown good form with the bat but has struggled to convert her starts into big scores. It will be crucial for her to capitalize on her innings and aim to convert her 40s into 80s at the same impressive strike rate.
Charlie Dean
The 22-year-old spinner has made an impact in ODIs, claiming 39 wickets in 22 bowling innings and scoring 191 runs in 15 innings. Charlie Dean performed well in the T20I series, although she did not feature in the opener of the ODIs. Given her proven ability to take wickets, England will likely want her in the mix for crucial games.
Ellyse Perry
The 32-year-old all-rounder in ODI cricket has scored 3427 runs at an average of 49.66 and bagged 162 wickets in 132 appearances. However, it has been a while since Ellyse Perry has displayed the same dominance with both bat and ball that she was known for. Australia needs her to regain her form now more than ever, especially with the Ashes on the line.
Annabel Sutherland
The 21-year-old all-rounder in ODIs, in 8 innings has scored 128 runs and struck 16 wickets in 14 bowling outings. Sutherland looked in excellent form during the One-Off Trent Test; however, since then, she has struggled to perform consistently. It is crucial for her to step up and make significant contributions with both bat and ball.
Pitch:
The Ageas Bowl, Southampton, has traditionally dished good batting-friendly surfaces, and expect it to be no different with an average score in the 230s. As indicated in the average score, the wicket has enough in it for bowlers, especially the pacers who can change the course of the game.
Weather:
Despite cloudy overhead, the chances of rain are minimal as the forecast promises a complete game of cricket. The temperature is expected to hover around 19°C, with moderate winds and a humidity level of 64%.
Fantasy playing XI:
Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Ecclestone, Jess Jonassen, Georgia Wareham
Match details:
Date – July 16, 2023
Time – 3:30 PM IST
Venue – The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Broadcast – All games of the series will be live-streamed on Sony Liv and telecasted by Sony Sports Network.