Australia will take momentum into their women’s World Twenty20 title defence in Bangladesh, after fast bowler Rene Farrell spearheaded another series win over England in Sydney on Sunday.
The Southern Stars still lost the overall Ashes series, but have finished the mixed-format campaign with more wins than England after taking out the ODI and now T20 components.
Farrell took 4-15 to restrict England to 8-101 from their twenty overs, before opening batter Elyse Villani scored 36 not out to guide Australia to an emphatic seven-wicket triumph with nine balls to spare in the final international at ANZ Stadium.
Australia are the undisputed queens of the T20 format, and will be full of confidence shooting for their third consecutive world crown in the sub-continent in March.
Leading Southern Stars players have called for a review of the points-scoring system as they were forced to settle for a moral victory this summer.
The one-off Test match won by England was worth six points compared to the two points awarded for each of the limited overs internationals.
Australia won 2-1 in both the ODIs and T20s, to finish the summer with four wins to England’s three, but they still weren’t able to make up the deficit.
England were unable to cope with Farrell’s brilliant opening spell and a masterful performance by Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning in the field.
Lanning took a one-handed screamer at mid-wicket and also completed a ruthless direct-hit run-out to tighten the screws on England after Farrell had the visitors reeling early at 3-15.
Farrell first struck in the second over of the match and was on a hat-trick midway through her next over.
Nicole Bolton took a juggling speculator at mid-on to get rid of England captain Charlotte Edwards and next ball Farrell had Lydia Greenway edging behind – before her hat-trick ball was safely defended.
Openers Alyssa Healy (22) and Villani put on 48 for the first wicket, with Lanning also chipping in with 23.
Ellyse Perry was named player of the series after starring with both bat and ball throughout the summer.
Gooner
Guest
Totally agree Garry. I watched it with my kids and wife and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The best bit was when my daughter walked past the tv and said is that girls playing? And then watched it with her big brother and after it was finished she actually asked him if he wanted to play cricket out the back!!! Thought the standard was pretty good and that meg lanning looked a class above with her batting/fielding skills!
Garry Edwards
Guest
I watched this game and I must say I enjoyed it from start too finish. There was no macho ,macho antics and no over exuberance, tardy aggressiveness for the camera or crews to focus on thus reducing the opportunistic manner to fabricate something from nothing but! The commentry team did try, once, no twice actually. But back to the cricket or should that be the allocation of points won per game simply put ridiculous, the aussies win the majority of games but lose the Ashes because of outdated points scoring system. The blokes wouldn't settle for it and neither should the women, perhaps the gurus cricket Australias' hierachy may want to quantify that at Dubai place it on the agenda amongst all the other things including the golf afternoon- strictly business! This game had everything that the big boys game had and some, sound ground coverage as a fielding units, scintilating catches (good as Silk), icluding the juggling act from Bolton, controlled aggressive batting, sensible running between wickets (take note boys) and a thriller to the end. Capped off by as Ita would say "no swearing in my lounge room thank you!" It just seems a pity that the public through poor promotion/marketing and obtuse journalism don't get as excited about the womens game as they do about the guys. And when you look at it, it's very hard not too deny that discrimination doesn't exist. Afterall fellas women have been playing criclket for years. And true too form I've no doubt this little submission, be it right or wrong will be mediated/moderated and ultimately doomed to the waste basket. Thats mano mano.