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Australia vs England: Women's Ashes - third T20, live scores, blog

21st November, 2017
First ball: 7:10pm (AEDT)
Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra
TV: Live, Nine Network
Online: Live, NineNow
Betting: Australia $1.65, England $2.19
Umpires: Shawn Craig and John Ward

Australia (squad)
Sarah Aley, Alex Blackwell, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (c), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

England (squad)
Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt
The summer of cricket's already started. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Expert
21st November, 2017
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The race for the Women’s Ashes trophy might be over, but England will be out for redemption and a drawn series when they take on Australia in the final T20 at Manuka Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:10pm (AEDT).

Because Australia won the last series, they only needed eight points to retain the trophy, which they secured with two ODI wins, a drawn Test and victory in the first T20.

England hasn’t been up to scratch throughout their tour, but a dead rubber win in the last match was somewhat positive for the tourists.

The key for the home side throughout has been Megan Schutt. While everyone has contributed at some point, Schutt has nearly always struck with the new ball. In the first T20, she took another four wickets, helping restrict England to just 9-132, which was chased down in just 15.5 overs as opener Beth Mooney smacked England’s lacklustre attack around the park for 86 off 56.

The tourists have had too many games like that. They seem to be competitive for a chunk, then go downhill in a hurry.

There is no better example of that than the Test match. They had Australia on the ropes at the end of Day 2, before Ellyse Perry scored a double hundred and ensured the worst result the hosts could achieve was a draw.

If England were consistently on the money, stopping runs like that from Perry, or the wicket-taking of Schutt combined with accurate spin, they would have been a lot closer to winning this series.

There is still plenty on the line for them in the final match though. A drawn series overall and victory in the T20s would give them something to take home. If that’s going to be the case, then Sarah Taylor, batting at first drop, will be the key.

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Australia will be keen to finish on a winning note though. Perry has shown what she can do throughout the series with both bat and ball, and working with in-form captain Rachael Haynes and Mooney, they will be looking to take down England’s attack again in a fast start which could set up the result.

Prediction
Australia should bounce back and pick up a win to close the series, even taking into account it’s another dead rubber. They won’t want to retain the Ashes on a drawn series result.

Australia in a close one.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the final women’s Ashes match from 7:10pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

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