Wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney’s 24th T20I half-century (75 off 51 balls), played an instrumental role for the home side led by the stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath to retain the Women’s Ashes courtesy of another comprehensive 57-run victory in the 1st T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The regular skipper Alyssa Healy and the veteran all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner continued to be on the sidelines as Australia as well as the visitors England, named the same starting 11 that took the field in the T20I series opener.
Record partnership between Grace Harris and Tahlia McGrath powers Australia to 185/5
England skipper Heather Knight won the toss and opted to field first in the 2nd T20I of the series at Manuka Oval, Canberra. The home side, Australia found themselves in deep trouble at 75/4 in the 10th over of the innings after a blazing 47-run opening partnership between the wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney (44 off 31 balls) and Georgia Voll.
Skipper Tahlia McGrath joined Annabel Sutherland at the crease and the duo took them closer to the 120-run mark with a much-needed 39-run partnership for the 5th wicket. Freya Kemp picked up the wicket of Annabel Sutherland (18 off 11 balls) to provide a crucial 5th breakthrough for England.
The Aussies eventually ended up with an imposing total of 185/5 in their quota of 20 overs on the back of a sensational unbeaten 71-run partnership for the 6th wicket between the stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath (48* off 35 balls) and Grace Harris (35* off 17 balls), ensuring a power-packed finish. It is also Australia’s record highest partnership for the 6th wicket in Women’s T20Is. Charlie Dean (4-0-28-2), Sophie Ecclestone (4-0-33-1), and Freya Kemp (3-0-21-1) were the top performers with the ball for England.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s fifty and Heather Knight’s cameo in vain as rain plays spoilsport
Chasing a target of 186, the England openers Maia Bouchier and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge got their side off to a flying start with a 46-run opening partnership, with the pair scoring at over 7 runs an over in the powerplay. Annabel Sutherland provided the first breakthrough for Australia by removing Maia Bouchier on the penultimate ball of the powerplay.
Sophia Dunkley joined Danielle Wyatt-Hodge at the crease and the rains arrived in the 9th over of the run chase when the visitors were 69/1, just having their nose ahead in terms of the DLS par score courtesy of a boundary smashed by Sophia Dunkley just before the rain interval.
The target was revised to 175 on the resumption with no overs lost, The pair continued to take the attack to the opposition bowlers before the experienced pacer Megan Schutt struck twice in the 13th over of the run chase to remove both the set batters Danielle Wyatt-Hodge (52 off 40 balls) and Sophia Dunkley (32 off 22 balls) which was a massive moment in the game.
Danielle Wyatt-Hodge completed her 19th T20I half-century before getting dismissed. She also became the first player to score five consecutive half-centuries at the Manuka Oval, Canberra in the T20I format. Skipper Heather Knight (43* off 19 balls) joined Nat Sciver-Brunt (22 off 20 balls) at the crease and the duo kept England in the hunt with another crucial 65-run partnership for the 4th wicket.
However, an exciting contest came to an anti-climactic end as the rain gods and DLS had the final say with five balls to spare. Australia emerged victorious as they were ahead of the DLS score by 6 runs. The result not only ensured Australia a T20I series win but also won the ongoing 8th edition of the multi-format Women’s Ashes with a couple of games to go. Megan Schutt (4-0-32-2), Annabel Sutherland (3.1-0-21-1), Georgia Wareham (3-0-21-0), and Kim Garth (3-0-31-0) were impressive with the ball for Australia.
Tahlia McGrath was awarded the Player of the Match for her vital contribution of 48* off 35 balls with the bat for her side towards the end of Australia’s innings. The Women’s Ashes scoreline is 10-0 in favour of the home side with a couple of games to go.
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