Australia 185 for 5 (McGrath 48*, Mooney 44, Dean 2-28) bt. England 168 for 4 (Wyatt-Hodge 52, Knight 43*, Shutt 2-32) by six runs (DLS method)
Australia secured the Ashes outright despite a fine hand from Heather Knight when the skies in Canberra turned cloudy enough for long periods of play when England were ahead of the DLS target. But the conclusion was dramatic with the umpires again being very heavy with rain, again with Knight finding the equation at 18 needed from five balls.
As the umpires took the players off, Knight threw the bat on the ground in frustration and remonstrated with the officials, although later said there was no anger towards them and it was the right decision to end the game. The requirement would still have been tough, but Annabel Sutherland was bowling with a wet ball. It ended England’s hopes of a series that has been the kind of campaign they want to forget.
Megan Schutt made vital breakthroughs to push England past the requirement, ending a second-wicket stand of 52 when Danny Wyatt-Hodge picked out mid-off for a 40-ball 52, and then well set Sofia. Removed Dunkley. ,
It was nip-and-tuck either side of the rain break, with rarely more than a run between England’s total and the DLS target. The last two deliveries before the players walked out of the field in the ninth overs showed how tight it was: Australia had completed a run-out chance with both batsmen. for four.
After being bowled, Australia’s innings went through several phases. Beth Mooney gave them a positive start but there was a wobble against the England spinners. However, they were handed a powerful finish with stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris adding a sixth-wicket stand to score 71 off 35 balls.
A ball-by-ball chase
England began their chase with confidence. After a quiet opening for four, 11 came from Kim Garth first and ten from King when she was introduced in the third over. As the rain began, England were ahead by a DLS target, although often not by more than one or two.
In the fifth over, the last time it was needed to make it a match, Ellyse Perry bowled the ashes for the first time. A boundary to Maia Bouchier kept England on track and the batsmen clearly knew, because after a lightning strike, she started walking off the field at the end of the over, but was called back by the umpires as That was played. Australia were clearly not impressed with England taking matters into their own hands.
Bouchier then gave Australia an opening when she tried to scoop Sutherland and a tight over from Georgia Wareham slipped England past. But then things changed again when Dunkley sent Perry for a four, followed by a six straight down the ground to leave the score tied on the DLS.
shining night
When Schutt struck twice in the space of four balls in the 13th over, it left England with a tall order, but two of their best players – the captain and vice-captain – were out. The equation yielded 84. Wareham went for 13 and then got away with ten from a Garth over. Shutt’s figures were spoiled when his last over was sent back for 17, leaving 44 with 18 needed.
McGrath bowled five excellent deliveries, but Knight was able to clear Perry to deep square for six. When Sciver-Sturnt pulled Garth onto the stumps, Australia had breathing room in the last over, but nobody would know if Knight could have pulled off a brilliant finish.
dean’s double
Mooney dominated Australia’s powerplay, to the extent that after four overs Georgia Woll had faced two balls for zero runs before being caught out by some good work in the deep from Bouchier. Mooney continued to extend her impressive record at Manuka Oval, until she was cleverly dropped down the leg side by Amy Jones in what appeared to be a plan with Sophie Ecclestone signaling to Jones before the delivery. Was found.
Mooney’s wicket stalled Australia as Perry tried to play himself out and in the tenth he skied to cover to Charlie Dean. Two balls later, Dean followed with Litchfield when the left-hander went wide of his stumps and missed a sweep. Suddenly all of Australia had lost 3 for 9 and needed to rebuild.
McGrath and Harris Big Finish
Sutherland threatened before picking out deep square in what has been a disappointing series for someone coming to the ashes in such fine form. But not for the first time, the depth of Australia’s batting order was on show as McGrath and Harris dominated the latter stages of the innings.
Harris clubbed her fourth ball for six and Sarah Glenn collected two more deliveries in succession in the 18th over. At this point McGrath was on 30 off 29 balls and, despite needing to prevent a more serious wobble, needed to finish strongly. He got away with only three consecutive boundaries off Ecclestone and another to close that cost to 18 and added another fall to England’s tally when McGrath was given a life by Dean at long-off. .
Lauren Bell was unable to bowl his full four overs as he was forced off the field due to illness, but returned for the last time out with Harris finding the boundary twice. It made a difference.
