It’s do or die for the English, as they take on Australia at North Sydney Oval in the first Women’s T20I of the summer this Friday. One Australian win will see the hosts retain the Ashes on home soil, so England cannot afford to lose. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:10pm (AEDT).
The score sits at 4-2 in favour of Australia, following the drawn day-night Test also held at North Sydney Oval.
There, we saw history as Ellyse Perry smashed an unbeaten 213, grabbing the mantle of the highest score in Women’s Test history by an Australian in doing so.
England, however, were valiant in the final day, starving the Australians of chances as captain Heather Knight and Georgia Elwiss saw the match out to a draw, with the number three and four hitting 79 and 41 not out respectively.
The draw was important in the context of the series, as it meant that England are still in the hunt to regain the Ashes, which would cap off a tremendous year for the reigning World Champions.
However, to do so, they must win all three T20Is in the series, starting this Friday.
With the same pitch being used from the drawn Test, the crumbling wicket is expected to spin sharply, with the Australians having plenty of spin options at their disposal.
However, captain Rachel Haynes has ruled out the option of all four tweakers (Amanda-Jade Wellington, Molly Strano, Ashleigh Gardner and Jess Jonassen) playing.
Yet England may entertain the idea of doing so, with the potential return of one or both of Danielle Hazell and Danielle Wyatt, who are yet to play on the tour.
England may also be without World Cup final hero Anya Shrubsole, who missed the clash with the Governor-General’s XI with a hamstring complaint.
Players to watch
Australia: Ellyse Perry
The hero of the twilight Test, Perry is in sublime touch after her double century. Class mixed with power, Perry is in fine form, and a danger for the English with the bat, as well as with the ball, as she can be extremely difficult to get away. If Perry fires, Australia wins, it is as simple as that.
England: Heather Knight
The England captain batted the best she has all tour with her second innings 79. She did exactly what she needed to do as a captain, and led her team to safety. She did not look like getting out, and barely gave a chance, and would have looked good for a ton, had she not agreed to end things early with Haynes. She can hit a ball, and could lead the English to victory and really give them hope.
Prediction
England by 20 runs
England looked composed in both of their innings, and batsmen such as Beaumont, Winfield and Knight have seemed to finally find their touch.
They should come out strong, and put the sword to the Australians with everything on the line, and try to push this series one step closer to an exciting finale.
Can England keep the series alive? Or will Australia end their Ashes dreams and retain the urn on home soil? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:10pm (AEDT).
Maggie
Guest
Well done by the Aussie women, both for this win and for winning the series and The Ashes. Brilliant batting by Beth Mooney, a joy to watch. And a sensational catch by Alyssa Healy earlier. An entertaining match watched by an excellent crowd. I love seeing so many kids, both girls and boys, at these matches. And thanks for the blog Dylan.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Match Report: Australia have retained the 2017 Ashes, defeating England in the first T20I by 6 wickets, winning the series 8-4 in the process. Australia entered the first of three T20I’s only needing one victory to retain the old urn, and win the series, and started off well, grabbing a wicket off the second ball of the day, Jonassen grabbing the English captain, Heather Knight. It got worse for England, as they lost their next three wickets for only 16 runs, sitting at 4/16, with Ellyse Perry (2/26) taking two wickets in two balls, leaving the English reeling, before Natalie Sciver (26) and Danielle Wyatt (50) started the counter attack, Wyatt hitting Gardner for consecutive fours to turn the tide. They put on a 61 run partnership before Kimmence trapped Sciver LBW, and Gardner ran out Wyatt in an athletic display of fielding off her own bowling. Fran Wilson (23 not out) batted well with the tail, but Megan Schutt (4/22) ended things well as she strangled the England batting lineup, keeping them to 9/132. Needing just over 6 runs an over to retain the Ashes, the Australians started strongly, taking 14 off the first over. Beth Mooney was the star of the Australian innings, hitting a brilliant 86 not out, off just 56 delieveries to ensure the Australians retained the urn. The opener batted with poise, class and power, placing the ball where she liked, and timing it to perfection. She had solid partnerships with Elyse Villani, Ashleigh Gardner and Rachael Haynes, but Mooney was the main act, winning the player of the match in the process. England will now go to Manuka Oval in Canberra for the final two T20I’s, with pride still to play for, and a couple of wins to salvage on what has been an otherwise disappointing tour. The next T20I is on Sunday, starting at 2:35pm (AEDT).
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Australia 4/134 defeats England 9/132 Australia retain the Ashes 8-4 Beth Mooney, take a bow. What a knock from the opener, 86 off only 56 balls, she smashed them to all parts of the ground and any hope that England had was extinguished after that first over. Megan Schutt (4/22) and Ellyse Perry (2/26) bowled well to restrict the English to 132, but Beth Mooney is the real star, seeing the Aussies home and putting together one of the best knocks I have seen in any form of cricket. Australia have retained the Ashes, on home soil after a tough series! The score sits at 8-4, there are two more T20I's left, and still pride to play for England, and Australia will want to drive their foot into the England throats. Thanks for joining me tonight, been a blast! Match report will be up soon!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
16TH OVER Ecclestone now, as Mooney grabs a quick single to mid wicket. Haynes gets a single out to point, Australia 7 away from the total. FOUR Lovely from Mooney, she glides this past third man with a beautiful bit of deft touch, Australia are a shot away. FOUR AUSTRALIA HAVE DONE IT! BETH MOONEY, TAKE A BOW! Drives through the covers, Australia have retained the Ashes on home soil, congratulations to Australia!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
15TH OVER Gunn is back, Mooney defending her into the offside. She works this one well though, and gets her single to get off strike. Inside edge from Haynes, and short fine fields well. SIX Hugeeeeeee from Haynes, massive blow over long on and hits a bomb, she can smell the Ashes, taste it, Australia are almost there!! She tries again, but gets none of it, a single down to long on. Mooney whips again, gets a single to finish the over. Australia 4/124 (15) Mooney 77 Haynes 11
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
14TH OVER FOUR Brunt is back on, and she gets slammed over point, Mooney is on fire, this is one of the cleanest displays of hitting I've see in a while. Gets a single right afterwards now. Haynes calls no, Mooney is down the wicket and nearly gets run out as she has to dive back. They get their single now though, a fumble at mid off. Slower ball that balloons over Taylor for one, Haynes pulls the next one hard for two, over mid wicket. Australia 4/115 (14) Mooney 75 Haynes 4
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
13TH OVER Captain Haynes is in, and she bunts a full toss down to long on for one. Mooney dissects the gap again, but only gets one this time. Haynes bunts one back to Hazell, before defending on the front foot. Australia 4/106 (13) Mooney 69 Haynes 1
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
13TH OVER Mooney with a single right away off Hazell. OUT Perry is gone!! Leading edge right back to the bowler! Hazell gets the big wicket of four, and once more, England are still in the game!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
12TH OVER Ellyse Perry comes to the crease, she's in good touch you'd think, as Perry dances down and gets one to get off the mark. FOUR Another fine bit of placement from Mooney, comes down again, over cover and finds the fence again, she is playing a blinder. FOUR 100 up, as Mooney goes down midwicket, placing it perfectly once more, she dissects the fielders and is motoring along, this is a blinder of a knock. . Works this one now to deep mid wicket, gets her single and keeps the strike. Australia 3/103 (12) Mooney 67 Perry 1
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
12TH OVER Mooney comes down to Hartley and gets a single down to long on. OUT Bowled her!! Gardner tries to whip this off middle and plays all around it, lazy stroke and it cannons into her middle peg, England still in it!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
11TH OVER Sciver continues, and Gardner gets a single right away, as she cuts again but point misfields. Mooney sweeps over square leg, doesn't get all of it, but gets two. Mooney gets another two, as she bangs this one out to deep mid wicket, finds Brunt. Mooney slams this again, to long off and gets one. FOUR Gardner ends the over by digging out a yorker over cover for four, lovely shot. Australia 2/92 (11) Mooney 57 Gardner 10
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
10TH OVER Ash Gardner to the crease. FOUR Immediately, she cuts and finds the gap, lovely shot and has four runs through point. David Warner of the women's team, says Michael Clarke. Tries the cut again, plays and misses this time, before bunting a pull shot to leg for one. Australia 2/82 (10) Mooney 52 Gardner 5
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
10TH OVER Mooney bumps Ecclestone down the ground for one. OUT Gone! Villani has smashed this down Knight's throat at cover, picked out the skipper and she will be on her way.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
9TH OVER FOUR Nat Sciver into the attack. Smart cricket, really smart cricket from Mooney, as she whips this over square leg for four, knew where to hit it and placed it well. Slower delivery from Sciver, Mooney plays and misses, Taylor takes this well. Mooney drives hard, and that is her 50 as she gets the single. Her first 50 at this level of T20 cricket, great innings, she will want to go on now and get a good 80 not out or so. Villani goes down to fine leg, and gets one, lucky she didn't get much of it. Quick single by Mooney to end the over. Australia 1/76 (9) Mooney 51 Villani 17
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
8TH OVER Alex Hartley comes into the attack, another left arm orthodox, as Mooney chips her down the ground for one. Villani comes down and sweeps hard down to deep square leg for one. Mooney gets another single. SIX Shottttt from Villani, down the track and slams this over Hartley's head, and Australia continue to motor along. FOUR And through the covers this time, that is a bullet. Timing and power from Villani, what a shot! Australia 1/69 (8) Mooney 45 Villani 16
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
7TH OVER Jenny Gunn into the attack for the first time tonight, Knight changing up her bowlers frequently. FOUR Mooney slams Gunn down to the vacant deep mid wicket region, and gets another boundary, she's hitting them beautifully. Tucks one off her legs the next ball for one. Villani plays one out, before she is DROPPED by Wyatt, real tough chance, barely a chance but she put one down as Villani went for the slog sweep. Mooney again with the quick single. FOUR Lovely shot to end the over from Villani, sweeps down past fine leg for her first boundary, Australia travelling well. Australia 1/56 (7) Mooney 43 Villani 5
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
6TH OVER FOUR Hazell switches ends, as Mooney comes down again, and spanks this over the covers for another boundary. She is batting superbly so far, must go on with this start. Mooney runs this down to point, no run though, and then chops one into the ground, Taylor tries the stumping, but Mooney is home, no troubles. Another dot ball, good bowling from Hazell, dragging back the length. Mooney gets her single though, pumping this out to deep cover. Big LBW shout to end the over, but the umpire does not budge. Australia 1/45 (6) Mooney 37 Villani 0
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
5TH OVER Elyse Villani the new batsmen, she's at the non strikers. Mooney smokes one out to deep mid wicket, good shot from a big inswinger, Villani gets a single straight after.. Wide ball as another inswinger to Mooney strays down leg. SIX Another great shot from Mooney, who just helps this along its way as Brunt goes short and wide down leg again, she is smashing them tonight. Good reply from Brunt, slower ball sees Mooney go searching for it. Drop and run from Mooney, smart cricket to end the over. Australia 1/40 (5) Mooney 32 Villani 0
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
5TH OVER Brunt back on, Healy can't find the ga p as she pulls Brunt to mid on. OUT Big wicket!! Silly shot really, Healy has pulled this high and deep, but got none of it as she picks out Dani Wyatt in the deep. England have the breakthrough, important that they continue to pressure Australia.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
4TH OVER Quick single to Mooney straight away, as Healy goes inside out next ball, Wyatt fields well whilst she's on the mic to the commentary team. Dot ball as Mooney cops one in the stomach, and then bunts one past Ecclestone for one, Healy dotted up the next ball. Healy finishes the over with a single to Wyatt at deep cover. Australia 0/30 (4) Mooney 23 Healy 5