Australia wrapped up a commanding innings-and-122-run victory over England on Day 3 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, sealing an unprecedented 16-0 whitewash in the multi-format Ashes. In England’s second innings, Alana King (5-53) and Ash Gardner (4-39) spun a web around England’s batters, taking nine wickets between them in an unbroken spell of 47.4 overs.
King’s masterclass saw her finish the series with 23 wickets at 11.17, equaling Gardner’s record haul from the 2023 Ashes. Tammy Beaumont (47) provided some resistance, but England collapsed from 79 for 1 to 148 all out. Earlier, Beth Mooney (106) became the first Australian woman to score international centuries in all three formats, while Annabel Sutherland (163) was named Player of the Match.
Day 3 Ashes Test highlights:
Alana King (Australia) – 5/53 (22.4)
Alana King produced her finest Test spell, ripping through England’s batting order with a mix of guile and precision. Her first victim of the day was Heather Knight (31), who flicked one to short leg. She then outfoxed Nat Sciver-Brunt (10) for the fourth time in the series, trapping her LBW with a quicker one that skidded on. Sciver-Brunt wasted a review, completely deceived by the delivery.
King’s ball of the series came against Sophia Dunkley (0)—a Shane Warne-esque ripper that pitched outside leg, dipped, spun sharply, and crashed into the top of off-stump, leaving Dunkley stunned. Her final two wickets were Tammy Beaumont (47), who dragged on a short delivery, and Ryana MacDonald-Gay (5), who gifted a catch at deep midwicket off a full toss.
Ash Gardner (Australia) – 4/39 (25)
Gardner provided relentless support, sealing the collapse alongside King. She first removed Danni Wyatt-Hodge (11), who swept straight to short fine leg, before dismissing Amy Jones (9) via an outside edge taken brilliantly by Mooney. She claimed her third wicket when Sophie Ecclestone (7) top-edged a long-hop to midwicket, before ending England’s innings by removing Lauren Filer (10), who chipped one to mid-on.
Beth Mooney (Australia) – 106 (191)
Earlier in the day, Mooney completed her century, becoming the first Australian woman to score hundreds in all three international formats. She overcame a nervy start before finding fluency, helping Australia post a massive 440 in their first innings.
With both King and Gardner on four wickets each, the closing stages turned into a race to the MCG bowling honours board. Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer frustrated the Australians with a record 10th-wicket stand before Filer finally chipped one to mid-on, giving King her maiden Test five-for.
Australia’s dominance across all formats completed a historic 16-0 whitewash, the first in Ashes history. England, on the other hand, depart with major concerns, having been outplayed in every department.
Loves all things female cricket
